The Korea Consumer Agency and the Fair Trade Commission are launching a contest inviting consumers to directly participate in improving laws and regulations. Submitted proposals will be reviewed with relevant government ministries and used as foundational data for policy development.
The Korea Consumer Agency and the Fair Trade Commission announced on the 3rd that they will hold the "10th Public Contest for Consumer-Oriented Improvement Tasks." The contest runs from March 3 to June 15. The competition solicits ideas to reform laws and regulations that undermine consumer rights in a more consumer-oriented direction.
Any citizen interested in promoting consumer rights may participate individually or in teams of up to five members. Applications are submitted online through the Korea Consumer Agency's contest website. Applicants download and complete the application form and project proposal before submission.
Awards are divided into the Fair Trade Commission Chairman's Award and the Korea Consumer Agency President's Award. The grand prize winner receives a certificate and 1.5 million won. Two first-place winners each receive 1 million won. Five second-place winners each receive 500,000 won. Eight encouragement award winners each receive 300,000 won.
Results will be announced in September. The awards ceremony will be held in November at the Korea Consumer Agency headquarters in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province. The grand prize winner will receive the Fair Trade Commission Chairman's certificate at the Consumer Day commemoration ceremony on December 3.
Five winning proposals from last year's 9th contest—including a suggestion to improve caffeine content labeling for decaffeinated coffee—were approved by the Consumer Policy Committee last year and led to legislative revisions. The Korea Consumer Agency stated, "Through this contest, we will identify practical, everyday regulatory improvement tasks and connect them to actual policy reforms."