The Status of Damage Relief in the Cosmetics Industry and the ADR System

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.