• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.25-46
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• 2015

Cross-border consumer disputes are on the increase as cross-border trade between consumers and businesses continues to grow. Cross-border consumer disputes are difficult to solve, because there are different languages, laws and institutions between the parties. These consumer disputes can be solved more easily by Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) in comparison with utilizing court processes. ODR is a branch of dispute resolution which uses technology to facilitate the resolution of disputes between parties. It primarily involves negotiation, mediation or arbitration, or a combination of all three. In this respect it is often seen as being the online equivalent of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). On 18 June 2013, the new legislation on Alternative Dispute Resolution and Online Dispute Resolution has been published - the "Directive on Consumer ADR and Regulation on Consumer ODR". The new legislation on ADR and ODR will allow consumers and traders to solve their disputes without going to court, in a quick, low-cost and simple way. The United Nations working group for online dispute resolution of cross-border electronic commerce transactions (UNCITRAL Working Group III) has been underway since 2010 to continue its work on procedural rules for ODR.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.249-275
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• 2018

Today's Internet environment is growing rapidly, and transactions based on it are also rapidly increasing. E-commerce allows merchants and consumers in different countries to easily trade goods across borders. However, the increase in international consumer transactions through the Internet is accompanied by an increase in disputes. International consumer transactions are characterized by a distinction among long distance, small sum, and different jurisdictions. International consumer transactions cannot be solved only by way of resolving disputes in past international transactions. The best way to resolve disputes between international carriers and consumers is through the Internet. In this regard, UNCITRAL has been preparing to enact legislation on ODR as a solution to international electronic trade disputes and, as a result, UNCITRAL adopted guidelines for operating the ODR procedure for building the ODR platform. The European Union has also increased its disputes in the European Union, which is active in the intra-regional market. Institutional improvements were made to solve this problem; therefore, the European Union (EU) has enacted the ODR Regulations for EU consumer disputes. Based on such, this study constructed the ODR platform, which is used as a way to resolve consumer disputes in the regional market.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.93-109
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• 2022

Cosmetics are products that consumers use every day to maintain or improve the health of their skin and hair. Therefore, the expansion of the cosmetics market leads to the expansion of disputes over cosmetic damage. Along with constant social changes, new conflicts continue to arise. In order to resolve these disputes, various consumer dispute resolution organizations and methods are required. Therefore, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), an alternative method that can provide a reasonable judgment on problems that occur during the manufacture and distribution of cosmetics with expert knowledge of the industry, is required. Korea resolves disputes between consumers and manufacturers caused by cosmetics through the ADR of the Korea Cosmetics Association and the Korea Consumer Agency. It handles disputes related to accidents caused by cosmetics, offers consultation on consumer complaints on cosmetics and provides information on accidents and safety related to cosmetics. It is not possible to completely eradicate disputes from cosmetic damages. Therefore, it is necessary to expand and efficiently operate the cosmetic ADR system for consumers. In this study, the current status of cosmetic damage disputes and damage relief and the role of the domestic ADR system were reviewed. Consumers should be easily relieved from damage caused by cosmetics. By accumulating important precedents with an efficient cosmetic damage dispute resolution system, disputes over cosmetic damage should be smoothly resolved.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.69-87
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• 2023

This study recognizes that consumers are becoming important as a subject of commerce as they change from the existing e-commerce market to the consumer-led e-commerce market, and proposes the use of consumer intervention as a remedy for consumer damage in international e-commerce disputes. In Korea, there is no separate regulation on consumer arbitration, so we will analyze the U.S. arbitration judgment, which is the most active in consumer arbitration, and examine it through the U.S. arbitration judgment so that arbitration can become active as a remedy for consumer disputes in Korea. In summary, in the event of a dispute between consumers and companies through e-commerce, consumers' preference for arbitration was confirmed through repeated collection of opinions without coercion. It is necessary to revitalize arbitration in Korea to protect consumers through arbitration rather than litigation and to resolve disputes through active alternative dispute resolution as a solution to disputes in e-commerce, which is rapidly increasing through U.S. consumer arbitration cases. The topic of the activation of arbitration has been mentioned a lot before, but the preference for arbitration is still lower than that of litigation. However, from now on, as the appearance of existing commerce has changed to consumer-led e-commerce, it has proposed a plan to use arbitration to rescue consumers from damage as consumers as buyers grow in the market.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.65-72
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• 2016

The purpose of the study was to investigate defect cases in residential interior design, to identify the state of defects, and to categorize types of defect and disputes. In addition, consumer appraisal to residential interior design service were analyzed. The results of this study could provide fundamental information regarding the defects and claims in residential interior design. First, we did literature review for defect disputes in architectural design and interior design. We identify the definition of defects by building life cycle, by state of construction, by activity, and by design performance. Second, we analysed interior design defects cases reported in Korea Consumer Agency & Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. A total of 49 cases of defect disputes in residential interior design from 2000 to 2015 were investigated. As a result, many defects appeared during the construction stage. A majority of defects cases fall into insulation, water-proofing/leakage work. In terms of design aspects claim, functional and aesthetic defects were claimed. Third, from Consumer Market Evaluation Indicators, raw data from 500 respondents were investigated for the housing repair and interior design. It is found that information comparability, responsiveness to consumer claim, price, and safety are important factors for consumer satisfaction in interior design.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.3-23
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• 2015

As the Internet rapidly emerges as a speedy and cost-effective way of purchasing goods from overseas websites, the number of disputes arising out of overseas direct purchases also increases. In such situations, a disgruntled consumer might be left without an effective remedy. Providing an alternative approach to redress such grievances might assist in resolving such disputes and in increasing consumer confidence in e-commerce. Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) will allow consumers to solve their disputes without going to court, in a quick, low-cost, and simple way. It also helps to eliminate complex jurisdictional and choice-of-law problems. On the other hand, it has many problems such as having inadequate confidentiality and security, not being able to meet the "writing" requirement for arbitration of disputes, having difficulty in enforcing online arbitration agreements, having difficulties in enforcing online decisions and so on. This article investigates relationship online disputes and ODR and suggests ways that ODR can work best in resolving disputes arising out of overseas direct purchases. To expand the ODR system in online disputes, it is very important for domestic consumers to recognize the concept and usefulness of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and ODR systems. The Korean government must also help consumers recognize the ADR mechanisms of dispute resolution by public campaign advertisement of ADR systems. Further education of dispute resolution in higher educational institutions is also required as well as assisting the KCAB with funds and the establishment of ADR Law.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.73-94
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• 2009

There are significant differences between disputes among enterprises and disputes between consumers and an enterprise. A majority of consumers may suffer from the same damages at the same time with small amount concerned and sometimes low chances for find the real cause. Among these distinctive features, the most significant characteristic in consumer-business disputes can be found in that consumers are in a disadvantageous position compared to businesses. When it comes to consumer policy, the biggest aim lies with turning back the damage a consumer is suffering into normalcy. In this regard, the Consumer Dispute Resolution System is the most essential among consumer policies. In Korea, the Collective Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) System was introduced to the Consumer Dispute Resolution System in 2007 in line with revision on the Consumer Basic Law. However, smooth damage redress for consumers is still not taking place. Against this backdrop, this report suggests that 'consumer arbitration' program should be introduced to the Consumer Dispute Resolution System as part of making good and smooth progress for consumer damage redress.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.91-110
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• 2018

Consumers repeatedly make small sum purchases through business-to-consumer contracts, usually without incident. Consumer areas have been increasing; therefore, consumer disputes have been occurring frequently as well. In international consumer transactions, it is not easy to solve consumer disputes by applying the laws of different countries. Resolving disputes by using the consumer arbitration system can be a measure to protect consumers. In the U.S., a class arbitration is being operated as a mixed dispute resolution system of class action and arbitration. Consumer Arbitration has long been a controversial issue in the U.S. It is therefore a lesson for us to examine related cases. A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, DIRECTV v. Imburgia, was looked into and after a summary of the facts, issues, and opinions and opposing opinions that had a tight controversy, a close analysis was done. The analysis through this judgment is as follows: first, the contraction of consumer protection; second, the expansion of the Federal Arbitration Act scope; third, the class arbitration's restriction; and fourth, the submission of the arbitration fairness act.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.69-102
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• 2004

This paper discusses about the e-commerce and the various types of e-commerce disputes. Through empirical examination on the dispute consideration system and by comparative analysis it is derived out of the weakness of current system and finally some suggestions for improvement. First, it is recommended that the more sophisticated knowledge concerning e-commerce should be proliferated through the existing institutions. For example, disputes for B2C could be managed by the consideration system of consumer dispute consideration in Consumer Protection Board of Korea, while B2B by the arbitration system of the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board. Second, the role of Korea Institute for Electronic Commerce established for the purpose of consideration of e-commerce disputes is much emphasized. For successful achievement, it is necessarily required to reinforce the related laws, systems, institutions and human resources. Finally, it is also suggested that the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board and Consumer Protection Board of Korea fully cover consideration and arbitration, while Korea Institute for Electronic Commerce activates its proper role of consulting and ad hoc arbitration by using electronic information. This study results are how to minimize the disputes and the method of dispute settlement. Therefore, a role of arbitration proposed and emphasized. To protect the dispute in advance, it's suggested to revise rules timely following on technical changes, and emphasized that the dispute has to lead to arbitration settlement not for consuming unnecessary time and finance for enterprises and consumers.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.121-138
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• 2020

The O2O services in the healthcare sector have only been in full swing for about three years, and unlike existing O2O consumer goods, the scale and scope of the dispute are more complicated due to restrictions on medical treatment. In this study, O2O service platform operators and medical institutions' roles and responsibilities were redefined as a countermeasure for resolving disputes in healthcare O2O services and the laws for changing the transaction environment. A change in institutional mechanisms was proposed. This study looked at the types of consumer disputes related to healthcare O2O services as insufficient information problems, problems in the course of medical service implementation, problems with immunity provisions for platform operators, cancellations, and non-compliance with refunds. All the information generated during transactions in the healthcare sector was extensive in scale and included the most sensitive information among personal information, stressing the importance of ensuring security. The area that started in the O2O range before the medical institution visit also proposed a plan to establish a system for the delivery of proven information as a pre-medical person. The scale and growth will grow faster, given that consumers can experience the information they want anytime, anywhere they want. However, the platform broker's role, a link player, will become more important because consumers who use the service will have their first meeting with non-face-to-face product providers. On the other hand, service providers may have side effects of misleading consumers by providing false information or misleading consumers through exaggerated advertisements. The O2O service market is expected to expand beyond distribution and dining out to the entire industry. However, since it is challenging to check accurate statistics on the detailed market, various disputes and consumer protection measures will be required for each detailed market, and comprehensive leading solutions will be essential in the future.