South Korea's Fair Trade Commission has begun deliberations on 10 local lubricant makers accused of fixing prices from January 2018 to October 2024. The alleged collusion affected sales worth an estimated 2.02 trillion won (US$1.31 billion) and involved products like metalworking fluids and industrial lubricants.
Japan's Fair Trade Commission raided six major ice cream companies, including Akagi Nyugyo and Lotte, on suspicion of colluding to raise product prices beyond raw material cost increases. The companies allegedly coordinated price hikes for years, sparking public anger.
A court hearing was held on the 16th to determine whether to suspend the Fair Trade Commission's designation of Coupang founder Kim Beom-seok as the 'person in charge' (total manager). Coupang argued that the FTC reversed its previous judgment without significant changes, while the FTC countered that grounds for changing the designation were confirmed during an on-site inspection this year.
Japan's Fair Trade Commission plans to order over 30 construction companies, including Haseko Reform and Daikyo Anabuki Construction, to pay approximately 1.6 billion yen in fines for violating the Antimonopoly Act through bid-rigging on large-scale condominium renovation projects. Two design consulting firms will also be subject to orders to prevent recurrence.
Japan's Fair Trade Commission plans to issue cease-and-desist orders to 38 construction and design consulting firms for bid-rigging on condominium renovation projects, also planning to impose fines totaling approximately 1.6 billion yen.
Japan's Fair Trade Commission has raided five major staffing companies on suspicion of forming a cartel to fix dispatch fees amid labor shortages and rising wages. The investigation targets alleged unfair profit-seeking by large firms while smaller companies struggle to secure workers and face rising costs.
Japan's Fair Trade Commission has launched an on-site inspection into five major staffing companies suspected of forming a cartel to raise the "dispatch fees" they receive from client businesses. The commission is investigating whether a portion of the increased fees was passed on to...
Japan's Fair Trade Commission is investigating five major staffing companies, including Recruit Staffing, for allegedly forming a cartel to inflate hourly dispatch fees and reduce worker wages. The firms are suspected of unfairly increasing charges to client companies while lowering the proportion paid to dispatched workers for their own profit.
The Fair Trade Commission has ordered Nature's Farm to correct its unfair pricing practices, including forcing pharmacies to adhere to fixed prices for its health supplements. The company will face stricter penalties for future violations.
The Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) reduced cartel fines by nearly 30 billion won (37.8%) for 23 companies since Chairman Joo Byung-ki took office, by applying leniency programs for self-reporters and cooperators. Critics argue this lack of transparency hinders oversight and may encourage repeat offenses.
The Japan Fair Trade Commission has begun an investigation into suspected bid-rigging concerning track-laying construction for the Hokkaido Shinkansen extension. Allegations suggest companies divided contracts for the 10-section project, with high winning bid rates observed for completed sections.
Japan's Fair Trade Commission is investigating nine construction companies and the Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency for alleged bid-rigging in contracts for the Hokkaido Shinkansen extension project. The companies are suspected of coordinating bids to limit competition for track laying work, with some contracts exceeding 94% of their value.
An editorial supporting the Korea Fair Trade Commission's decision to designate Coupang Chairman Bom Kim as the company's controlling shareholder, replacing a corporate entity designation. The piece argues this closes an accountability gap and criticizes both Coupang's dual posture of being local in profit but foreign in accountability, and disproportionate pressure from some US lawmakers. Both Seoul and Washington should work to prevent this corporate governance dispute from becoming a bilateral irritant.
