A PYMNTS Company

South Korean Regulators Reward Team Behind Major Sugar Price-Fixing Bust

By  |  April 26, 2026

South Korea’s antitrust watchdog has granted financial awards to a group of officials credited with uncovering a large-scale price-fixing scheme in the domestic sugar market, distributing millions of won in bonuses as part of a new incentive program, according to a statement.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    At the center of the recognition were two investigators from the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC), who together received 15 million won after leading an inquiry into collusive practices among leading sugar producers. The initiative reflects a broader policy direction under President Lee Jae-myung, who has called for stronger recognition of high-performing public servants. Per a statement, the administration has encouraged agencies to more actively reward impactful enforcement work.

    The KFTC said it awarded a total of 32 million won to 14 staff members across various ranks, including division heads and investigators, citing their roles in significant regulatory actions. Among them, one deputy director who spearheaded the sugar probe received the largest individual bonus, while a senior colleague who assisted in the case was also recognized.

    According to a statement, the investigation revealed repeated coordination among three major sugar refiners over several years, with the conduct spanning from early 2021 through 2025. Authorities estimated that the arrangement influenced transactions worth trillions of won, ultimately leading to substantial financial penalties against the companies involved.

    Regulators indicated that the case began with routine market surveillance, during which officials noticed unusually synchronized price movements across suppliers nationwide. Per a statement, this pattern prompted a deeper inquiry that ultimately exposed multiple instances of collusion.

    The agency also highlighted other enforcement efforts in its announcement. A separate team was rewarded for pursuing action against large corporate groups that allegedly failed to properly disclose affiliated entities, resulting in referrals of senior business figures for prosecution. Additional staff were recognized for designing tougher penalties aimed at deterring unfair practices and for conducting crackdowns on market disruptions that affect consumer prices.

    An official at the commission said the new compensation system is intended to reinforce accountability and motivate results-driven work. “Following the president’s directive to ensure that civil servants with outstanding achievements receive bold rewards, we introduced the special performance award system this year,” the official said. “We plan to provide awards to employees who deliver exceptional results, such as pursuing policies that citizens can tangibly feel or uncovering serious unfair practices.”

    Source: En Sedaily