Consumer complaints about mats, peaches jumped last month, agency says

The Korea Consumer Agency and the Korea Consumer Organizations Council said Friday that consumer complaints about mats and peaches filed with the 1372 Consumer Counseling Center last month jumped sharply from the previous month.

Total consumer complaints received last month reached 55,226, up 0.8 percent from the month before. Mats saw the largest surge, with complaints jumping 422.5 percent, followed by peaches at 243.9 percent. Air conditioners (50.7 percent), hotels and pensions (44.8 percent) and general lessons (37.3 percent) rounded out the top five.

The agency said complaints about mat exchanges and refunds jumped after a specific brand voluntarily recalled its infant mat products. For peaches, many consumers reported requesting refunds for delivery delays on products purchased through online video platforms, only to find they could not reach the sellers.

Compared with the same month last year, complaints about mats and peaches rose 115.5 percent and 90.4 percent, respectively, while complaints related to funeral prepayment services jumped 42.9 percent. The increase in funeral service complaints appears to stem from a string of closures among prepayment companies.

The products drawing the most complaints last month were gym memberships (1,323 cases), air passenger transport services (1,310 cases) and air conditioners (1,243 cases). Consumers in their 20s and 30s most frequently sought help with gym-related issues, those in their 40s and 50s with air conditioners, and those 60 and older with health supplements.

The agency urged consumers who experience harm to gather transaction records and supporting documents and file a complaint through the 1372 Consumer Counseling Center or the Consumer24 portal.