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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) is reviewing a potential corrective order against Coupang Eats over allegedly unfair contract terms related to commission charges, according to the office of Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Kang-il and industry sources.
In October, the FTC ruled that Coupang Eats’ terms—under which commissions are calculated based on the pre-discount price rather than the discounted amount—could violate the Act on the Regulation of Terms and Conditions. The structure forces merchants to bear both discount costs and commission fees, creating a double burden. The FTC recommended that Coupang Eats amend or remove the clause within 60 days.
However, Coupang Eats has rejected the recommendation, maintaining that the clause does not violate the law. Industry checks indicate the company continues to apply the existing fee structure and plans to contest the issue with regulators. This stance contrasts with market leader Baemin (Baedal Minjok), which revised its policy in May to calculate commissions based on post-discount prices.
As a result, the FTC has moved to consider a formal corrective order. Lawmaker Lee criticized Coupang Eats for ignoring both merchants’ demands and regulatory guidance, arguing that the company is acting against legal standards and social consensus.
Industry observers note that the scrutiny comes amid heightened regulatory pressure on Coupang following a massive data breach involving approximately 33.7 million users. They warn that the outcome could lead to stronger enforcement actions and broader regulatory tightening across the food delivery app sector.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
