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The American Sandwich Company, Subway, has a problem with a branch owner, so our headquarters is in the United States. In a similar way, it's not just one or two foreign companies that are blocking branches and dealers. If the FTC sanctions the subway, the system itself needs to be changed.

This is reporter Kim Do-kyun.

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The Sandwich Franchise Subway has more than 44,000 stores in over 110 countries worldwide.

The manager of a branch in Gyeonggi-do reported to the Fair Trade Commission that he was under unfair closing pressure.

The reason for exceeding the penalty for poor hygiene is that the owner claimed that it was a very light matter and that it was corrected immediately.

I appealed the closure notice, and the answer came in that I must file a complaint directly with the Arbitration and Resolution Center in the United States.

I created my own English materials without an attorney and submitted them by e-mail.

The FTC believes that the means for the owner to challenge the franchise's actions is not appropriate.

[Hui-sun Choo / legislator (18th National Assembly audit of the National Assembly): Even the arbitration costs must be paid by the owners. After all, merchant owners are fooling Korea's people by exploiting the inability to respond properly.]

[Colin Clark / Subway Korea Representative: I understand that the Fair Trade Commission is under investigation. I will cooperate with you sincerely to solve the problem you have mentioned.]

The FTC concluded that the unfair closing force violated the domestic affiliate business law and held a small meeting to confirm sanctions on the subway.

(Video coverage: In Pil Sung, Doo Won Won, Video editing: Lee Seung Hee, CG: Park Sang Man)