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Busan Metropolitan City Strengthens Consumer Damage Prevention Education in Three Vulnerable Areas: Clothing and Textiles, Fitness Centers, and Accommodation Facilities

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Busan Metropolitan City Mayor Chun Jae-soo announced that, following an in-depth analysis of consumer consultations in Busan received through the 1372 Consumer Counseling Center and the Busan Consumer Life Center during the first half of 2026, the city has designated clothing and textiles, fitness centers, and accommodation facilities as the three vulnerable areas and will strengthen consumer damage prevention education in response to the concentration of reported cases in these sectors.

According to the analysis, the categories with the highest numbers of consultations were clothing and textiles, with 749 cases, followed by fitness centers with 460 cases and accommodation facilities with 430 cases. In particular, categories showing sharp increases compared with the same period of the previous year included cryptocurrency, up 3,650.0 percent; mobile game services, up 444.4 percent; and building cleaning services, up 159.0 percent, indicating the spread of new types of consumer damage.

Consultations related to clothing and textiles mainly involved discoloration after winter garments were cleaned, as well as delivery delays and exchange or refund issues resulting from a surge in demand for seasonal clothing during the summer. For fitness centers, consultations concerning refunds and contract cancellations increased due to the closure or suspension of operations by some businesses. Accommodation-related consultations frequently involved reservation cancellations, cancellation penalties, and dissatisfaction with facilities during the summer vacation season and around major concerts.

Cryptocurrency and mobile game services, in particular, were found to have seen a concentration of damage involving new forms of fraud and unfair transactions as the digital environment has expanded. By age group, consumers in their 30s accounted for the largest number of consultations, with 4,822 cases, or 27.6 percent, followed by those in their 40s with 4,463 cases, or 25.5 percent, and those in their 50s with 3,513 cases, or 20.1 percent.

Based on the findings, Busan Metropolitan City plans to implement a range of tailored policies to prevent consumer damage and create a safe consumer environment.

As part of its key initiatives, the city will select eight consumer affairs experts to provide damage prevention education, conduct campaigns, and share information on major product and service categories. It will also promote relevant regulations among laundry business operators, fitness centers and other sports facility operators, and accommodation providers.

Other measures will include customized consumer education and public awareness programs tailored to different stages of life, as well as information on damage cases and consumer redress procedures through the city's website and social media channels.

In the second half of the year in particular, the city plans to conduct at least 50 consumer damage prevention education sessions for older adults and young people entering the workforce. It will also provide damage prevention education for public officials in October.

Consumers who experience problems involving clothing and textiles, fitness centers, accommodation facilities, mobile game services, or other products and services can seek assistance by contacting the 1372 Consumer Counseling Center at 1372 without an area code or the Busan Consumer Life Center at 051-888-2141 to 2145.

Kim Gi-hwan, Assistant Mayor of Digital Economy Office, said, “We will focus on providing effective education and information and ensuring prompt consumer redress to protect residents from new types of consumer damage that have recently been increasing rapidly.”