가전유통구조(家電流通構造)의 문제점(問題點)과 개선방안(改善方案)

A Study of the Distribution System of Korea's Consumer Electronics Industry

본고(本稿)에서 필자(筆者)는 우리나라의 가전유통시장(家電流通市場)의 현황 정리 및 분석을 통하여 가전유통시장에 존재하는 문제점(問題點)을 파악하고 후생증진(厚生增進)을 기할 수 있는 정책대안을 찾아보고자 하였다. 본고(本稿)에서 밝혀진 주요내용은 다음과 같다. 가전유통시장(家電流通市場)이 가지고 있는 가장 큰 문제점은 가전(家電) 3사(社)에 의한 배타적(排他的) 대리점제(代理店制)이다. 가전(家電) 3사(社)의 배타적(排他的) 대리점제(代理店制)는 제조단계(製造段階)의 경쟁을 제한하고 제조단계에의 진입(進入)을 봉쇄(封鎖)하는 진입장벽이 되고 있을 뿐 아니라 중소기업(中小企業)의 성장과 전문화를 저해하고 있으며, 가전(家電) 양판점(量販店)의 성장을 가로막는 요인이 되고 있다. 따라서 가전(家電) 3사(社)의 배타적 거래는 공정거래법(公正去來法)의 '부당한 구속조건부 거래'에 해당하며 이에 대한 공정거래규제(公正去來規制)가 필요하다. 효과적인 규제를 위해서 공정거래위원회(公正去來委員會)는 차별적 대우 등 암묵적인 배타적 거래의 유지수단에 조사의 초점을 맞추어야 할 것이며, 손해배상제도(損害賠償制度)의 적극적 이용을 유도하는 것이 필요하다고 판단된다.

The Korea's Consumer electronics industry has exhibited a spectacular growth in the last three decades, expanding into one of the most important industries in Korea in many respects. One interesting aspect of the industry is the dominant role played by the Big Three of the industry, Gumsung, Samsung, and Daewoo. Since 1984, the three companies have accounted for about 90% of the sales in key items such as color TV, VTRs, refrigerators, and washers. The Big Three not only dominated the manufacturing stage, but also the distribution stage of the industry through their networks of exclusive dealers that constitute the major part of the distribution market. In this study, we analyzed the effects of the exclusive dealing by the Big Three on the efficiency of the Korean economy. We find that exclusive dealing by the Big Three could seriously constrain competition in both the manufacturing and distribution stages of the industry. Exclusive dealing by the Big Three effectively forcecloses the market for most other manufacturers as well as deterring entry into the manufacturing stage by potential entrants. Further, it impedes the growth of distributors that achieve the economies of scale and scope and restricts competition by the Big Three. In contrast, we could find little evidence that exclusive dealing by the Big Three is pro-competitive or enhances welfare. As a remedy to this problem, we suggest that the Fair Trade Commission of Korea should regulate the exclusive dealing by the Big Three, thus opening the door for the growth of distributors that are not bound by an exclusive dealing relationship with any of the Big Three. Put differently, we urge the Korean Fair Trade Commission to apply the Article 23 (5) to the exclusive dealing by the Big Three. Article 23 (5) that states that unfair restrictive dealing is illegal has never been clarified by the FTC. We believe that our analysis could also serve as a basic for the clarification of the article in general.