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No.491 2006.09.08 Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations
2005 Superior Brand Rice Selected by Consumers

Press Release No. 491, Issued on 8 Sep. 2005

Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations
   - 2005 Superior Brand Rice Selected by Consumers

Consumers Union of Korea
   - Fraudulent coupon sites are active again as Chuseok approaches
      Consumers should remain on the alert when using discount or cash payment
      sites


Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations

2005 Superior Brand Rice Selected by Consumers

The Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations (Chair Lee Haeng-ja) has been conducting an evaluation service for brand rice sold in the market with sponsorship from the Agriculture Ministry since 2003. This project is implemented to secure the consumers’ option to purchase better rice based on the provision of accurate information, while upgrading the competitiveness of Korean rice by upgrading brand rice quality and enhancing consumer confidence.
For this year’s evaluation, the Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations received 71 samples of brand rice sold on the market from NACF, the Korean Grain Association, the Staple Food Association, and RPCs. Expert organizations conducted evaluations of the quality and taste of cooked rice, and species and consumer tasting evaluations from February to September.
From the original 71 brands they finally selected one top best brand, five superior brands, and six recommended brands. The Council will announce the evaluation results at the “2005 Comprehensive Evaluation Meeting of Brand Rice Sold on the Market” being held at the aT Center on 7 September. Prizes will also be awarded to the selected brands. Park Hong-su, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, awarded commendation letters, while Chair Lee Haeng-ja presented commemoration plaques to the superior brands.

Asan Clean Rice of Chungnam was selected as the top best brand for 2005. Detailed evaluation results are as follows:

- For detailed evaluation results, see Consumer Information Corner.

▶ Contact: Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations (02-774-4050)


Consumers Union of Korea

Fraudulent coupon sites are active again as Chuseok approaches
Consumers should remain on the alert when using discount or cash payment sites

Consumers should be on the lookout for swindles operated by Internet sites that sell coupons issued by major department stores, as many cases where consumers have suffered damages by transferring cash to fraudulent sites have been reported.

Seoul E-Commerce Center (http://ecc.seoul.go.kr) discovered two fraudulent coupon discount sales sites on September 7.

These two coupon discount sites, Ticketpro (www.ticketpro.co.kr) and Ticket Money (www.ticketmoney.co.kr), were able to operate with a stolen tax payers’ numbers while displaying a fraudulent online sales report number and business location. The operators are still at large.
As Ticket Money comes out top when searches are conducted on major portal or search sites using keywords such as coupon or coupon discount, over 80 victims suffered 40 million won damages in one day. Ticketpro induces consumers by advertising the sale of 10 x 100,000 won coupons from famous department stores for 300,000 won.
These sites deceive consumers into transferring cash by falsely assuring them that they accept cash payment rather credit card payment because of the nature of the coupons.
During the last New Year’s holiday, a site called OK Ticket extorted over 58 million won from 146 persons by falsely promising that they would sell famous department store coupons at a 70% discount.
The total damages reported to Seoul E-Commerce Center in the year since last September amounted to 700 million won and involved 25 fraudulent sites.

Always Check Business Operator Information before Engaging in Transactions

It cannot be normal for merchandise coupons to be handled just like cash and sold at greatly discounted prices. It is very risky for an Internet sit to insist on cash payment only.
Consumers need to check the operator’s identity information when an Internet site requests cash payment while offering excessive discount rates. The operator identity of sites declared in Seoul may be checked at the Seoul E-Commerce Center Website (http://ecc.seoul.go.kr).
Information regarding fraudulent sites and e-commerce transactions will be promptly provided if you register for e-mail service membership through the website.

▶ Contact: Kang Jeong-hwa, Center Director (02-3707-8374)
    Jeong Ji-yeon, PR Team Manager (02-3707-8360)



#524, #525, 47, Sejong-daero 23-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Postal code: 03182)
  TEL 82-2-774-4050   FAX 82-2-774-4090   E-mail: sohyub@consumer.or.kr