A view of the Korea Consumer Agency headquarters [Korea Consumer Agency]
A view of the Korea Consumer Agency headquarters [Korea Consumer Agency]

The Consumer Dispute Mediation Committee of the Korea Consumer Agency said Tuesday it has initiated collective dispute mediation proceedings over the cancellation of the 2026 Han River Rivercross Swimming Challenge.

Earlier, 67 consumers filed a collective dispute mediation request in August, seeking compensation and refunds of entry fees after the event — organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Songpa-gu Swimming Federation — was canceled and participants received conflicting information from organizers.

The event had been scheduled for June 20-21 but was called off due to rain and concerns over water discharge from Paldang Dam. Applicants said the organizers had announced the event would proceed as normal until just before it was due to take place, then provided contradictory guidance on whether approval had been granted.

The committee determined that the case met the requirements for initiating collective dispute mediation, as more than 50 consumers had suffered harm and the issues in dispute were in effect identical in fact and law.

The committee plans to publicize the proceedings for 14 days through the Korea Consumer Agency's website and daily newspapers, and aims to reach a mediation decision within 90 days of the close of the public notice period.

If the organizers accept the mediation decision, they will be required to submit a compensation plan. The committee intends to ensure that consumers who did not participate in the mediation process are also covered under a blanket compensation arrangement.


spa@heraldcorp.com