{
  "id": 7226941,
  "title": "With Chuseok approaching, beware of flight ticket scams… “Check fees and cancellation rules”",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/story-7226941",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-14T00:39:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hankyoreh",
    "slug": "hankyoreh",
    "url": "https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/economy/consumer/1277666.html"
  },
  "original_language": "ko",
  "account": "As Korea prepares for the upcoming Chuseok holiday, many are gearing up for international travel, prompting calls for heightened caution regarding airfare-related consumer issues. The Korean Consumer Agency and the Fair Trade Commission (Fair Trade) issued a travel advisory on the 14th to warn consumers of potential pitfalls. Between 2023 and 2025, airfare-related consumer complaints totaled 7,438 cases, marking a 37% increase year-over-year.\n\nThe most common issue arose when contract termination, cancellation, or rescission was denied by airlines. This accounted for 58.4% (4,341 cases) of all complaints. Second, airline delays and cancellations made up 27.2% (2,020 cases), followed by unfair treatment at 5.3% (394 cases). A notable concern was the dual imposition of fees by airlines, tour operators, and global online travel platforms (OTAs) during the cancellation process after purchasing tickets. For example, a consumer who bought a round-trip ticket from Incheon to Daegu for 291,880 KRW and later canceled it paid a total of 77,000 KRW in cancellation fees to both the tour operator and the airline.\n\nOther consumer grievances include lost, damaged, or delayed checked baggage. In 2023, there were 131 incidents of baggage damage, with 76 cases resulting in damage. Importantly, consumers should verify the safety of their travel destinations and cancellation/rescheduling requirements of the travel agency and airline before booking their flights. They must also be aware that separate fees may apply when using travel agencies and OTAs. In the event of lost, damaged, or delayed checked baggage, travelers should immediately report the issue at the airline's desk in the airport and obtain a receipt. Moreover, valuable items such as cash, jewelry, and high-tech gadgets should be carried personally rather than checked. Should consumers experience any issues during their airfare-related transactions, they can file a complaint or seek redress through the \"Consumer24\" service or the \"1372 Consumer Consultation Center.\"",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}