Most of the people are unaware of the implementation of the system, and the accessibility is poor compared to delivery apps
The ‘dining out cost disclosure system’, which was introduced in February and suffered from controversy over its effectiveness, has already been abolished.
When focusing on issues such as price stability
“Can’t I check the delivery fee on the delivery app? I have not heard of a separate announcement from the government.”
This is consumers’ evaluation of the delivery fee disclosure system, which started on February 25 and has been in force for 137 days as of July 11.
This system, introduced to reduce the burden of soaring delivery costs and satisfy consumers’ right to know amid the rapid growth of the food delivery market due to COVID-19, is still suffering from controversy over its effectiveness.
Delivery cost information is released on the website of the Korea Consumer Organizations Association and the Consumer Agency once a month.
During the five months from February to June, the number of views confirmed through the website of the Korea Council of Consumer Organizations was only 5,547 as of 3 pm on the 8th. It averages 1,109 cases per month, which is slightly over 1,000 cases.
In particular, in the first two months of February and April alone, the number of cases reached 4,000, and in March, May, and June, the average number of cases was only 541.
Most consumers who order delivery food check the delivery cost through delivery apps.
There are many consumers who are unaware of the existence of the delivery fee disclosure system, and even if they do, they do not want to go through the trouble of visiting the website of the relevant institution to check the delivery cost.
The original purpose of inducing competition for lowering delivery costs between delivery platforms has also faded.
Delivery costs have risen since the introduction of the delivery fee disclosure system in February. As the demand is greater than the supply, the price has risen according to the logic of the market.
The recent slowdown in the increase in delivery costs should be attributed to a decrease in demand for delivery food as more people go out due to the endemic transition, rather than the effect of the public announcement system.
This is the reason why it is constantly being pointed out that it is a typical tabletop public opinion that wastes only budget without achieving its initial purpose.
In the case of the restaurant price announcement system, which was introduced in February along with the delivery fee disclosure system, it failed to overcome the controversy over its effectiveness and was abolished following three months.
It was determined that the price information that had already been disclosed through delivery apps, etc., was not as effective compared to the effort.
Like the delivery fee disclosure system, the lack of accessibility and low usage rate among general consumers also contributed to the decision to abolish it.
Some point out that the contents of the survey and the method of publication should be improved in order to increase the efficiency of the system.
However, in a situation where the majority of people are using information more easily and conveniently through delivery apps, there are also many voices that it is a waste of resources to maintain the system with a budget and effort.
There are many places that require a budget or manpower that must be used for the public interest.
Due to the soaring food prices, the food service industry as well as general consumers are in a state of emergency.
If the government’s measures are for the public benefit, it is more effective to focus the budget and manpower on the most urgent issue now, price stability.
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