Recall

Recall (리콜, 소환수리/召喚修理, 제작결함시정/製作缺陷是正), precisely speaking, a product recall, is a request to return to the manufacturer a batch or an entire products, usually due to the discovery of safety issues. The recall is an effort to limit liability for corporate negligence, which can cause costly legal penalties, and to improve or avoid damage to publicity.

The object includes the manufactured food. For example, on October 26, 2012, the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) urged four domestic ramen manufacturers to recall nine products as public fears mount over reports that their soup powders contain high levels of benzopyrene. This expands on its announcement one day earlier that it was asking Nongshim to pull four of its products, including its popular Neoguri noodles, for also containing the carcinogen.

Recalls are costly to a company because they often entail replacing the recalled product or paying for damage caused by use, although possibly less costly than consequential costs caused by damage to brand name and reduced trust in the manufacturer. Nowadays many countries require manufacturers to recall the products with some defects, if found, by law in terms of consumer protection.

Key words
recall, manufacturer, consumer, defected product, product liability

Recall or After-sales service
As mentioned above, recalls are mandatory for a manufacturer which have found some defects of its products. The company is required to make such defected products known to users publicly, or notify its users individually, and further check, replace or fix the defected parts of such products. However, after-sales service of products is to replace or fix the products with defects to have been found unexpectedly within a certain period after the sale.

Recall a Car
Recall a Car applies an automobile with defects which could not meet the safety standards or would affect safe driving. In this case, the authorities concerned have forced its manufacturer, assembler or importer to notify such defects of the owner of such car and to take corrective measures such as repair, exchange, refund, etc. and thus preventing further accidents and injuries to consumers.

There are two types of recall: In addition, Korean government has enforced manufacturers' self-certification checklists (자기인증적합조사) as well as safety defect investigation (제작결함조사, 안전결함조사) to improve the automobile safety.
 * In the European Union, Japan, China, etc.: Government approval system (형식승인제도) certified by the authorities concerned before sale
 * In Korea, United States and Cananda: Self-certification system (자기인증제도) to promote self-regulation of manufacturers.

How to Recall
A product recall usually involves the following steps, which may differ according to local laws:
 * Maker or dealer notifies the authorities responsible of their intention to recall a product. Consumer hotlines or other communication channels are established. The scope of the recall, that is, which serial numbers or batch numbers etc. are recalled, is often specified.
 * Product recall announcements are released on the respective government agency's website (if applicable), as well as in paid notices in the metropolitan daily newspapers. In some circumstances, heightened publicity will also result in news television reports advising of the recall.
 * When a consumer group learns of a recall it will also notify the public by various means.
 * Typically, the consumer is advised to return the goods, regardless of condition, to the seller for a full refund or modification.
 * Avenues for possible consumer compensation will vary depending on the specific laws governing consumer trade protection and the cause of recall.

Statutory grounds

 * Automobile Maintenance Act (자동차관리법), Enforcement Decree and Rule thereof;
 * Rule on the Automobile Safety Standards (자동차안전기준에 관한 규칙)
 * Rule concerning the Administrative Disposal Standard and Process pursuant to Article 21 (2), etc. of the Automobile Maintenance Act (자동차관리법 제21조제2항 등의 규정에 의한 행정처분의 기준과 절차에 관한 규칙);
 * Passenger Transport Service Act (여객자동차운수사업법), Enforcement Decree and Rule thereof;
 * Act on Guarantee of Compensation for Loss Caused by Automobile (자동차손해배상보장법);
 * Automobile Mortgage Act (자동차저당법) and so on.

Recall Agencies
Automobiles with defects may be reported and identified via the Auto Recall Center (자동차결함신고센터) run by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (교통안전공단). It may be reached by toll-free 080-357-2500.

In case of food, call KFDA (식품의약품안전청).