(image: KobizMedia/ Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Jul. 31 (Korea Bizwire) – The South Korean version of U.S. lemon laws is set to kick off next year as the government moves to strengthen consumers’ rights, the transport ministry said Tuesday.
Under the lemon laws in the United States, those who purchase cars and other consumer goods which repeatedly fail to meet standards of quality and performance are compensated by the sellers. The term “lemon” has long been used to describe defective vehicles in the U.S.
If a vehicle repeatedly underperforms or malfunctions due to the same problem, a government-led experts committee will decide on whether the vehicle should be exchanged or refunded from Jan. 1, 2019, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement.
“Customers can bring up all repeated problems within six months of a vehicle purchase to the committee for exchanges or refunds,” a ministry official said by phone.
If problems related to the safety of drivers and passengers take place twice, the vehicle is subject to exchanges or refunds. In the case of general problems that do not affect safety, three failures will allow the owner to ask for an exchange or refund, the statement said.
(Yonhap)
