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KFTC Chair Signals Crackdown on School Uniform Collusion

By  |  February 24, 2026

KFTC Chairperson Ju Biung-ghi said on the 24th that suspected collusion in the school uniform market appears to have become a customary practice and pledged to strengthen oversight and enforcement.

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    Ju made the remarks during a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Lee Jae-myung at the Blue House, according to a statement released after the meeting. He indicated that KFTC plans to expand its review of key consumer goods in the coming months.

    “We will review livelihood items such as pork, eggs, and school uniforms sequentially from March to May,” Ju said, per a statement.

    His comments come amid broader efforts by KFTC to address price-fixing and ensure that cost reductions are reflected in consumer prices. Regarding a recently concluded investigation into alleged sugar price collusion, Ju said authorities believe additional price reductions are warranted.

    “We believe further price cuts are needed going forward,” he said, according to a statement. Although companies have recently lowered sugar prices by 16.5 percent, KFTC signaled that the reduction may not be sufficient.

    Earlier this month, on the 12th, KFTC imposed a combined penalty surcharge of 408.3 billion won on seven companies for colluding on sugar prices. The sanctioned firms include CJ CheilJedang, Daehan Flour Mills, Sajo Dongaone, Samyang Corporation, Daesun Flour Mills, Samhwa Flour Mills, and Hantop.

    Ju said KFTC intends to pursue additional steps to ensure that consumers experience meaningful price relief. “We will use measures such as price redetermination orders to induce sufficient price cuts that people can feel,” he said, per a statement. He added that a dedicated task force will continue monitoring whether falling costs of raw materials and supplies are being reflected in processed food prices, including snacks and bread, and across the broader food sector.

    The chairperson also signaled tougher consequences for companies that repeatedly engage in collusion. “As the president noted, for companies that repeatedly participate in collusion, we will swiftly report, in consultation with relevant ministries, measures to sanction them at a level equivalent to market exit, as in other advanced countries,” Ju said, according to a statement.

    KFTC’s recent actions suggest a more aggressive stance against anti-competitive practices, particularly in markets closely tied to household expenses. With reviews of additional staple goods set to begin in March, KFTC appears poised to intensify scrutiny of industries that directly affect consumers’ daily lives.

    Source: Biz Chosun