'Baemin Only' Promotion Ends After 6 Months; Cheogajip Chicken Can Return to Other Apps
Creatrip Team
19 days ago
Baedal Minjok operator Woowa Brothers and franchisor Korea103 ended their controversial 'Baemin Only' promotion after six months. The deal had cut commission fees roughly in half (from 7.8% to 3.5%) for franchised Cheogajip Yangnyeom Chicken restaurants that agreed to stop listing on rival delivery apps. Although initial participation was high, many franchisees later refused to extend because orders from other apps fell and Baemin gains didn’t make up the loss; advertising costs rose and coupon reimbursements were smaller than expected. Franchisee groups filed complaints with the Fair Trade Commission alleging abuse of market power, insufficient information disclosure (a franchise law issue), and coercive practices like threatening to set competitors’ accounts to long-term closed ("janggi-hyumu"—long-term closure) on behalf of stores. Woowa Brothers countered that Baemin orders and brand sales grew significantly during the promotion. Stakeholders say the promotion’s end doesn’t remove the need for a regulatory ruling to prevent similar exclusive-deal schemes from recurring.
