You Could Have Paid Less for Fuel Surcharges? A Fukuoka Route Twist

[Anchor]

It is time for Friendly Economy on Thursday, joined by reporter Han Jiyeon. Han, today you are talking about fuel surcharges.

[Reporter]

An analysis has emerged showing that consumers are paying more in fuel surcharges.

Looking at Korean Air's one-way flight from Fukuoka last month, the actual charged amount was 32 dollars, but a consumer group calculated it to be estimated at about 18 dollars.

Fuel surcharges, which are added separately to fares when purchasing airline tickets, are funds shared by passengers in proportion to the increase in fuel prices.

This money is calculated by multiplying the amount of fuel consumed per passenger by the increased amount of fuel prices above the benchmark.

The problem is that the amount of fuel consumed per passenger remains based on calculations from 10 years ago.

The benchmark table created with data from 2014 was authorized in 2016 and has not been changed once since.

Newer airplanes consume less fuel, and the more passengers board, the less fuel is used per person, but these changes are not being reflected.

Therefore, the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice analyzed 426 flights that actually operated this past summer.

Recalculating across four routes—Fukuoka, Qingdao, Shanghai, and Tokyo—the results came out an average of 30 percent lower than the actual charged amounts.

Shanghai charges 44 dollars, but was calculated at 29 dollars.

This is the result even after calculating under the assumption that seats are only 80 percent filled.

Cargo loaded in the baggage compartment beneath the airplane also uses the same fuel.

When calculations are shared to account for this cargo portion, the difference widens up to 41 percent.

For Fukuoka, it is effectively less than half of the money actually paid.

The Board of Audit and Inspection also pointed out this issue last year, but for some reason, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is still in the stage of preparing improvements.

However, because this is an estimate based on only four short-haul routes, it is difficult to conclude that the entire international network is the same.

[Anchor]

Are there other problems as well?

[Reporter]

Looking at the average exchange rate in July, it was 1,514 won per dollar.

When reversing the calculation for the won-denominated fuel surcharge amount, it appeared to have been applied at 1,600 won per dollar.

Fuel surcharges are set in dollars, but we pay in Korean won when settling.

Korean Air guides on its website that the average exchange rate for that period is used.

Even when examining from April to September, the applied exchange rates were either 1,500 won or 1,600 won.

This matches perfectly with the average exchange rate rounded up to the nearest 100-won unit.

According to the coalition's analysis, rather than rounding, it is unconditionally rounded up, meaning even 1,501 won is treated as 1,600 won.

Last month, a one-way Fukuoka ticket priced at 32 dollars was collected as 48,000 won, which was calculated at 1,500 won per dollar.

As a result, for all six months and across all distances, consumers paid more than what was calculated using the Bank of Korea's average exchange rate.

The difference ranged from a low of 73 won to more than 18,000 won one-way on the longest distances such as New York.

Based on the time with the largest difference, if a family of four travels to New York, they would pay about 74,000 won more just for a one-way trip.

The consumer group demanded that Korean Air explain why its website guidance differs from the actual charged amounts, and also disclosed the fuel surcharge calculation standards and exchange rate application methods.

[Anchor]

Lastly, it seems that getting Tesla vehicles repaired when they break down is somewhat difficult?

[Reporter]

At yesterday's parliamentary audit, it was pointed out that even though Tesla sales surged by 385 percent over four years, there are only 35 repair centers, taking an average of about 10 days just to get an appointment.

Repair refugees refer to car owners who wander around unable to find a place to leave their cars even when they break down.

Tesla newly registered more than 56,000 vehicles in the first half of this year alone.

This figure approaches the entire year's total for last year.

However, based on parliamentary audit data, while Mercedes-Benz has 74 service centers and BMW has 84, Tesla has 35.

This means a single center has to handle around 4,000 vehicles.

It was pointed out that there are only two places capable of repairing core parts such as batteries or motors, and there is no domestic exclusive parts logistics center.

The head of the Korea Consumer Agency responded by saying they would promptly conduct a fact-finding investigation and seek improvement measures.

Criticism directed at global corporations did not stop there.

On the same day during the parliamentary audit, YouTube subscription plans also came under fire.

While overseas countries like the United States, Britain, and Japan offer diverse options such as student, two-person, and family plans, South Korea's premium subscription plans consist of only two types: individual and light.

Even the light plan only came out in January of this year following an investigation by the Fair Trade Commission.

The chairperson of the Fair Trade Commission responded that they would check the differences in subscription plans between domestic and international markets.

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