[Sportschosun Jang Jong-ho] The Parliament of Thailand has passed the so-called Lemon Law, a sweeping measure to strengthen consumer protection.
If the bill is finally enacted, the burden of proof for product defects will shift from consumers to sellers, significantly strengthening consumer rights.
According to local media outlets including The Nation, the House of Representatives of Thailand recently voted on a bill to establish the Product Defect Liability Act and approved it with 420 votes in favor, none against, and no abstentions.
The key point of the bill is that sellers will be primarily held responsible for product defects that occur within a certain period.
Under the bill, sellers must take responsibility if defects occur within six months after delivery for general products, home appliances, electronic devices, and motorcycles. For cars, the coverage period is extended to one year.
If a defect is confirmed, consumers may request repairs, replacements, price reductions, or refunds.
In particular, if a serious defect is found, consumers can demand an immediate replacement within seven days for general products and within 14 days for electronic and electrical products.
Repair periods are also limited. General products must be repaired within 60 days at most, while cars must be fixed within 90 days.
For cars and motorcycles, if a defect is found within the designated period and mileage range, the seller will be liable regardless of any separate finding of negligence.
The government expects the new law to reduce disputes between consumers and sellers and ease the burden of litigation. It also believes companies will pay closer attention to product quality, which should help improve overall market trust.
South Korea already has what is known as the Korean Lemon Law. However, unlike the Lemon Laws in Thailand or the United States, it applies only to automobiles, which is its biggest difference.
Even the automotive Lemon Law, which has been in effect since 2019, has limitations. Consumers still bear the burden of proving defects. In addition, the process for replacement or refund is long and complicated, and concerns have been raised about information asymmetry between manufacturers and consumers.
As of 2026, South Korea is ranked around 15th in the world by economic size, measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while Thailand is ranked around 30th.
Jang Jong-ho, bellho@sportschosun.com
