Cracking down on price gouging ahead of Chuseok... MCST launches fair-pricing campaign in Busan

[Financial News] Ahead of the Chuseok holiday and the peak autumn travel season, the government and tourism industry have launched efforts to curb price gouging and promote courteous service. The government is strengthening sanctions for fare violations and will continue on-site inspections involving citizens.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) said on the 22nd that they had held the second-half "Korean Fair Pricing and Courteous Service Tourism Campaign" at Haeundae Market in Busan. Busan Metropolitan City, the market merchants' association, the central association of lodging businesses, and the Korea Food Federation also participated.
Participants shared the results of citizen monitoring and examples of best practices, then distributed informational materials to merchants and visitors. The campaign encouraged them to maintain reasonable prices and provide clean, courteous service.
The campaign followed a launch ceremony held in Myeong-dong, Seoul, on April 30. As of the end of August, citizens had submitted 12,806 reports through mobile monitoring of price compliance and the standards of courteous and clean service.
The reported inconveniences were forwarded to local governments and other relevant bodies, which were asked to make improvements. As of August, 296 outstanding businesses were being featured on the tourism safety map, "Chamgyeonjaengi Map."
Administrative penalties for fare violations have also been strengthened. Lodging and restaurant businesses that fail to display a price list or do not honor their posted prices may face a five-day business suspension starting with the first violation. Taxi drivers who charge unfair fares may receive a 30-day suspension of their qualifications.
The government is also pursuing an amendment to the law that would require lodging businesses to set seasonal fare caps and report them in advance. The amendment would also prohibit businesses from unilaterally canceling confirmed reservations without a legitimate reason and reselling the rooms.
Tourism-related complaints can be filed through the 1330 Travel Helpline & Complaint Center without an area code or on the KTO website. The KTO advises people reporting violations of laws or regulations to submit the subject of the report, details of the violation, and relevant evidence. In urgent cases, however, reports may be filed without supporting evidence.
Kang Jeong-won, Director-General for Tourism Policy at the MCST, said, "Eliminating price gouging and promoting courteous service can lead to changes that people genuinely experience in the field only when both the tourism industry and the public voluntarily participate and put these principles into practice."

[email protected] Jang In-seo Reporter