This study investigates on the present situation and differences of consumer problems through consumer counselling between Japan and Korea. The findings of the study are as follows;(1) Though it is late in its establishment in Japan, the Consumer Protection Law (since 1980)and the Consumer Protection Board (CPB, since 1987) of Korea have placed emphasis on heightening consumer awareness and set the stage for improved protection of consumer rights. The Consumer Dispute Settlement Committee, an independent branch of the CPB, is empowered to exercise a quasi judicial power in arbitrating consumer disputes.(2) Consumer troubles, especially, service ―consumer― troubles in Korea have a tendency to increase rapidly. (3)Although consumer trouble is affected by the degree of awareness in the consuming society, from this study, it is observed that there is no great difference between Japan and Korea with regards to consumer troubles.

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In order to investigate trends in consumer education, we categorized the research papers published in The Japan Academy of Consumer Education at the time of writing (issues 1 – 34). The papers were divided into six periods each covering approximately five years and then into 21 categories based on those specified in “New Consumer Education: Q&A.” .This analysis showed that the contents of consumer education have constantly been increasing in school education, but that opportunities for consumer education have been decreasing in companies and consumer organizations. In addition, there was little consumer education for pre-elementary school age children and elderly people. In the future, studies of consumer education for these populations should be increased.

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As part of the on-going search for new consumer rights/affairs policies suitable for the era of the 21^<st> Century, one of the major topics currently being investigated by many consumer organizations is the type of basic roles that they should begin to play related to representing consumers and promoting the interests of consumers. The research described in this report was focused on nonproft organizations (NPOs) and on investigating recent trends in the activities of these consumer organizations. The results of the research indicate that consumer groups that have already attained the legal status of corporations tended to be newly formed consumer groups and that the acquisition of this status tended to involve their activities that were directly related to recent, specific government policies affecting consumer rights and interests. In the case of these consumer groups, it is widely anticipated that they will become more directly and more deeply involved with government policies that affect consumer interests. When this factor is taken into consideration, it can be surmised that it is likely that these consumer groups that have such aims are likely to become the core organizations of the consumer rights movement in the coming years.

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