The Supreme Court accepted prior court decisions in cases involving an online shopping mall representative and a plastic surgeon who were each sentenced to one year in prison and levied fines of 7 million won. (image: Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, May 7 (Korea Bizwire) — The Supreme Court has ruled that the practice of selling coupons for plastic surgery through online shopping malls and claiming a certain portion of the treatment cost as commission is illegal.
The Supreme Court accepted prior court decisions in cases involving an online shopping mall representative and a plastic surgeon who were each sentenced to one year in prison and levied fines of 7 million won.
Between 2013 and 2016, the shopping mall representative received 608 million won (US$520,000) in commission for introducing 50,173 patients to 43 hospitals.
The plastic surgeon was introduced to 5,291 patients through the online shopping mall and paid 122 million won in commissions.
The hospital paid 15 to 20 percent of the treatment fees every time a patient purchased coupons for plastic surgery at the online shopping mall.
“The practice in question exceeds the extent of an advertisement. It is an act of mediation with a purpose to conclude a contract between the patient and the hospital to gain profit, which violates relevant legislation,” said the second instance court, to which the Supreme Court agreed.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
