The Korea Consumer Agency urged consumers to be cautious on the 29th, as cases have emerged where businesses lure customers under the pretense of taking free photos via social media and text messages, then charge high expenses.
The number of claims for compensation related to photo shooting received by the Consumer Agency over the past 3 years and 3 months totaled 1,228, indicating an annual increase. Among these, 182 cases related to the marketing of free photo shoots accounted for 14.8% of the total.
An analysis of the 182 cases related to the marketing of free photo shoots found that cases related to contract cancellations accounted for 75.3%, followed by breach of contract at 10.4%, and unfair practices at 6%. Many cases involved refusing to refund deposits upon cancellation and refusing refunds when canceled after inducing additional product purchases.
Among the 172 cases where the contract amounts were confirmed, contracts below 100,000 won constituted the largest portion at 43.6%. This was followed by 'over 1 million won' at 36% and 'between 500,000 won and 1 million won' at 11.1%. Despite being visits and shoots advertised as free, 47.1% of the cases involved high-value contracts over 500,000 won. The average contract amount was approximately 750,000 won.
The Consumer Agency plans to advise businesses with a high number of claims related to the marketing of free photo shoots to inform customers in advance that expenses for providing original photo files outside of the shoot, and for creating albums and frames, will be incurred.
Furthermore, consumers were advised to check ▲whether expenses will be incurred and the contract terms before making reservations or visits ▲confirm any items that will incur additional expenses before the shoot and demand that important matters be specified in the contract ▲keep related evidence materials such as reservation texts and contracts in case of disputes after the shoot.