Fair Trade Commission exterior. /Courtesy of News1

Tennis equipment companies that set online minimum sale prices and forced wholesalers and retailers not to sell below those prices have received corrective orders from the Fair Trade Commission.

On the 22nd, the Fair Trade Commission announced that it would impose corrective orders on the importers Amersports Korea, Yujin Sportif, and Alchemist for violating the Fair Trade Act (Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act) by enforcing online minimum sale prices on tennis equipment sellers.

From 2021 until February of this year, they provided price lists with online minimum sale prices for tennis rackets, balls, bags, shoes, and other tennis equipment to wholesale and retail transaction partners and demanded compliance.

This constitutes 'resale price maintenance,' which is prohibited by the Fair Trade Act.

The companies frequently checked whether transaction partners complied with sale prices and demanded price adjustments if violations were found. The investigation revealed they coerced compliance by threatening disadvantages such as suspension of shipments.

It was confirmed that Amersports Korea and Yujin Sportif included a clause in the contract stating there could be disadvantages if resale prices were not adhered to.

The companies ceased such practices in February of this year after the Fair Trade Commission conducted an on-site investigation. In October, they voluntarily rectified the situation by announcing a policy to liberalize resale prices and revising contract clauses.

The Fair Trade Commission concluded the sanctions by issuing a prohibition order to prevent the repetition of similar actions.

A Fair Trade Commission official noted, "Through this measure, it is expected that price competition in the online sale of tennis equipment will be promoted, allowing consumers to purchase products at lower prices."