Ju Biung-ghi Chairperson of the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said on the 23rd that "it is right to unify the (reporting) channel under the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC)" in connection with the leniency (reduced or waived penalties for voluntary reporters) program. There have been steady criticisms that leniency is ineffective because the reporting channels are split between the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) and the prosecution.
The Chairperson appeared at a full session of the National Assembly's National Policy Committee the same day and said, "Those under investigation, especially individuals, have no choice but to pay much more attention to criminal investigations than to Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) investigations." The remarks reflected a negative view of the prosecution launching an investigation in the middle of a Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) probe.
The tug-of-war between the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) and the prosecution surfaced this month with the alleged collusion case involving sugar and flour. The Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) began its probe a year and a half earlier, but the prosecution announced results first. Until now, the process had been that after the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) finished its investigation and reported those involved to the prosecution, the prosecution would begin its investigation. On this, the Chairperson said, "In fact, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) completed its investigation into the sugar issue earlier than the prosecution's indictment."
The Chairperson also said, "In the sugar case, the first and second places for voluntary reports were different between the prosecution and the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC)." This revealed that more than one corporations used leniency. It is unusual for the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) to disclose information tied to leniency. The Chairperson said, "(The prosecution) decides whom to search and seize based on the contents of the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) investigation," adding, "The prosecution's indictment procedures are extremely limited compared with the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC)'s case-handling procedures."
The Chairperson also said, "In principle, it is right to move toward abolishing the exclusive right to file complaints." The exclusive right to file complaints is the authority of the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) to decide unilaterally whether to refer violations related to laws such as the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act to the prosecution. The Chairperson said the plan to abolish the exclusive right to file complaints would be announced together with the plan to address the split leniency reporting channels.