FTC Introduces Standard Contracts for Yoga, Pilates Lessons

According to Yonhap, South Korea's Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has introduced standard contract terms for yoga and Pilates lessons, including refund guidelines, as consumer disputes in the sector rise. The FTC said the nonbinding terms were designed to address complaints over unfair refund practices and losses from sudden business suspensions or closures. The Korea Consumer Agency received 1,211 consumer complaints in 2024, up from 818 in 2021, the FTC said. Under the new guidelines, cancellation fees should be based on the actual amount paid after discounts, not the original price, and businesses must clearly state whether refunds are calculated by the number of classes taken or by the enrollment period. Firms planning to suspend operations or shut down permanently should notify customers at least 14 days in advance, and those covered by guarantees insurance must disclose the policy type and coverage before a purchase decision.