Increased Incidents of Denied Refunds for Camping Reservation Cancellations… Disputes Related to Weather Changes Such as Typhoons and Heavy Rain Are the Most Common

With the rise in the camping population, there has been an increase in consumer complaints regarding the refusal of refunds or the return of deposits when canceling camping reservations due to adverse weather conditions. Therefore, caution is necessary.

The Korea Consumer Agency announced on the 17th that a total of 327 claims related to camping site damages were filed over the past five years (2020-2024).

The number of damage claims by year shows a decrease from 72 cases in 2020 to 52 cases in 2021, followed by an increase to 54 cases in 2022, 72 cases in 2023, and 77 cases in 2024.

Specifically, disputes due to weather changes and natural disasters such as typhoons or heavy rain were the most common, totaling 61 cases.

Disputes related to cancellations and refunds before using camping sites account for 75% of all complaints.

Examining the types of damages, disputes related to contract cancellations and penalties amounted to 183 cases (55.9%), and refusals of contract withdrawal accounted for 63 cases (19.3%). Complaints regarding refunds from cancellations before using camping sites made up 75.2% (246 cases) of the total.

Additionally, there were complaints regarding contract breaches due to poor hygiene of camping facilities or issues like water stoppage and heating facility malfunctions (51 cases), as well as complaints about unfair practices such as additional charges without prior notice (15 cases).

The Consumer Agency analyzed that with recent weather changes leading to frequent sudden heavy rain and snow, the refusals for refunds and disputes over penalties upon canceling camping contracts have increased.

According to the consumer dispute resolution standards announced by the Fair Trade Commission, if a consumer cannot use accommodation facilities due to climate change and natural disasters, the business must refund the deposit even for same-day cancellations.

However, real-life cases show that many camping sites have either no criteria for contract cancellations related to strong winds and heavy rain or apply standards that impose penalties on consumers, creating issues.

The Consumer Agency urges consumers to confirm penalty regulations when reserving camping sites and secure evidence materials.

The Consumer Agency plans to share these damage cases with the Korea Tourism Organization and over 4,000 camping site operators nationwide, as well as promote the content of consumer dispute resolution standards to prevent consumer harm and improve the trading environment.

The Consumer Agency emphasized, "Before making camping reservations, it is crucial to thoroughly check the weather forecast and facility information for the day of use, and to carefully review the penalty rules on the camping site's website or reservation platform." They also highlighted that in case of disputes, it is important to secure evidence materials such as photographs, recordings, and data regarding weather warnings or advisories from the meteorological agency.

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