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A South Korea civic organization said Thursday it has petitioned the country's anti-trust watchdog for an investigation into popular outdoor brand The North Face Korea for possible breach of fair trade law.
"We filed a complaint with the Fair Trade Commission earlier today, demanding an investigation into the North Face Korea, which has implemented resale price restrictions in violation of the fair trade law," the Seoul Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) said during a press conference.
"Our survey of its 23 stores in Seoul shows The North Face is suspected of fixing retail sales by forcing all stores that deal with its products to adhere to its pricing policy. Every single store offers the same deal within a specific discount range, which
is illegal," the YMCA said.
South Korean law bans retail price fixing, whereby a manufacturer and distributors agree upon set prices for products, while manufacturers may stop doing business with vendors if they refuse to adhere to the pricing policy. Price-fixing is viewed as hampering free competition among retailers, thus harming buyers.
The YMCA's move came a week after it criticized major foreign outdoor brands including The North Face for their pricing policies in South Korea, which have local consumers paying an average of 50 percent more for the brand products.
The North Face jackets have become a center of controversy in South Korea, as their popularity among students has caused violent assaults at schools at a time the country is grappling with the issue of prevalent school violence, following well-publicized suicides by students who had been bullied.
The products are also dubbed "backbreakers," as parents have to almost "break their backs" to afford one for their children, who regard the jackets as status symbols. For example, a model named Nuptse 2, which costs 250,000 won (US$220), is considered to be worn only by "losers" while the Himalayan Down Parka, which sells for 690,000 won, is worn by "the big boss."
"A series of social problems surrounding The North Face products has undoubtedly something to do with the foreign brands themselves, which try to profiteer via unfair pricing policies to take advantage of their popularity," the YMCA said.
"We call on the Fair Trade Commission to launch a prompt investigation, and take proper measures such as bringing the case to prosecution if any illegal acts are found," it added. (Yonhap News)
<한글기사>
서울YMCA, 공정위에 노스페이스 조사 요청
서울YMCA는 노스페이스가 일선 매장의 제품 판 매가격을 강제하는 '재판매가격 유지행위'로 공정거래법을 위반한 정황이 있다며 공 정거래위원회에 이에 대한 조사를 요구했다고 16일 밝혔다.
서울YMCA는 서울시내 23개 매장을 조사한 결과 노스페이스가 백화점, 직영점 등 매장 종류나 위치 등 조건과 상관없이 같은 제품에 대해 같은 판매가격 표시 정책을 시행, 고가정책을 편 것으로 의심된다며 이같이 주장했다.
공정거래법은 거래단계별 사업자가 스스로 판매가를 결정한다는 원칙 아래 제조 업체 등이 일선 매장의 판매가를 정하는 행위를 제한하고 있다. 유통 단계에서 자유 로운 경쟁이 저해되고 소비자의 선택권이 제한되는 것을 막으려는 취지다.
이 단체는 "거의 전 매장의 판매가격이 일정한 가격범위 내에서, 특히 회원 가 입 등 유사한 조건에서 5~10% 할인이라는 지침 안에서 움직이는 것으로 보인다"며 "
이는 공정거래법 29조에서 제한하는 재판매가격 유지행위"라고 지적했다.
서울 YMCA는 "노스페이스가 부당한 가격정책으로 공정한 시장질서를 해치고 소 비자 이익을 침해하는지 신속히 조사하고 위법이 있으면 검찰 고발 등 후속조치를 취해 달라"고 공정위에 촉구했다.
또 "노스페이스와 관련한 청소년 폭력과 '일진' 현상 등은 유명 아웃도어 브랜 드들의 고가 전략과 무관하지 않다는 것이 우리의 판단"이라며 "이런 부분에 대해 지속적으로 법적ㆍ사회적 책임을 물을 것"이라고 덧붙였다.
이에 대해 노스페이스 측은 "이미 공정위에서 아웃도어용품 업계를 대상으로 지 난해 연말부터 재판매가격 유지행위와 관련한 조사를 진행하고 있다"며 "조사 결과 가 나오지 않은 상황에서 입장을 밝히기는 곤란하다"고 말했다.
