Chairperson Ju Biung-ghi said on the 26th that a swift, nationwide investigation had been launched into four school uniform manufacturers and roughly 40 dealerships across the country.
Chairperson Ju attended the second meeting of the Task Force (TF) on special management of household prices held at the Government Sejong Complex that day and said, "School uniforms, which have recently faced controversy over high prices, are an item where habitual collusion has persisted."
The four school uniform manufacturers under investigation by the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) are Ivy Club, Elite, Smart, and Skoolooks. Chairperson Ju said, "We will mobilize the FTC headquarters and five regional offices in full." Ju added, "Through deliberations next month on a bid-rigging case involving 27 companies for 136 schools in the Gwangju area, we will sternly sanction violations of the law," and said, "We will root out entrenched collusion."
Chairperson Ju also said, "The investigation into collusion by businesses related to starch and sweeteners (starch sugar) is likewise scheduled to be concluded next month." Ju continued, "We ask relevant ministries to actively cooperate so that the government can respond even more swiftly and sternly to foul play that drives up household prices and distorts market order."