Origins
Cooling-off rights began with door-to-door sales: the U.S. Federal Trade Commission adopted a three-business-day rule in 1972, and Europe moved from a 1985 doorstep directive to a 14-day right under the 2011 Consumer Rights Directive. Korea covered distance selling in its 1991 Door-to-Door Sales Act, then gave online shopping its own law in 2002 with a seven-day right. Scholars see it as an option to try before committing (Ben-Shahar & Posner, 2011) or a brake on impulse buying (Eidenmüller, 2011).
Periods and exceptions
Change of mind: 7 days from receiving the contract terms or the goods. Not as advertised: 3 months from delivery, or 30 days from when you knew. Door-to-door sales get 14 days. Withdrawal can be refused if you damaged the item, used it so its value fell sharply, opened copyable media, or ordered a custom item after clear notice; opening a box to inspect it does not count as damage.
Costs, refunds and disputes
- Change of mind: you pay return shipping; defects or misdescription: the seller pays.
- No cancellation penalties; refunds within 3 business days of the return, with late-payment interest if delayed.
- If refused, contact the 1372 Consumer Center, send a certified letter, or use small claims.
- Seller duties are covered in mail-order business registration.
FAQ
- Can I return an item after opening it?
- Yes, if you opened it to inspect it; copyable media with broken seals may be excluded.
- Who pays for return shipping?
- You do for a change of mind; the seller does for defects or misdescription.
Sources reviewed: 2026-11-09
References
- 전자상거래 등에서의 소비자보호에 관한 법률 제17조(청약철회등)·제18조(청약철회등의 효과). Korean E-Commerce Act articles on withdrawal periods, exceptions, refunds and return costs.
- 공정거래위원회. (n.d.). 전자상거래에서 소비자 보호. Korea Fair Trade Commission guide to consumer protection in online shopping.
- 1372 소비자상담센터. (n.d.). Korea's official 1372 consumer counseling and redress center.
- Ben-Shahar, O., & Posner, E. A. (2011). The right to withdraw in contract law. The Journal of Legal Studies, 40(1), 115–148. Analyzes the withdrawal right as an option that lets buyers learn about a product before committing.
- Eidenmüller, H. (2011). Why withdrawal rights? European Review of Contract Law, 7(1), 1–24. Justifies withdrawal rights with behavioral insights such as impulsive purchasing.
- Rekaiti, P., & Van den Bergh, R. (2000). Cooling-off periods in the consumer laws of the EC member states: A comparative law and economics approach. Journal of Consumer Policy, 23(4), 371–408. Comparative law-and-economics study of cooling-off periods across EC member states.
- Sovern, J. (2015). Written notice of cooling-off periods: A forty-year natural experiment in illusory consumer protection and the relative effectiveness of oral and written disclosures. University of Pittsburgh Law Review, 75(3). Finds U.S. written cooling-off notices did little in practice over forty years.