It was confirmed on the 13th that the Korea Fair Trade Commission has launched on-site inspections of gas stations in Busan, North Gyeongsang, and Jeju on suspicion of collusion.
The previous day, Chairperson Ju Biung-ghi of the Korea Fair Trade Commission said at the fourth meeting of the "task force (TF) for special management of essential consumer prices" held at Government Complex Seoul, "We have mobilized all regional offices to form a gas station price response team and are operating a nationwide monitoring network." He added, "On-site inspections are also underway at gas stations in Busan, North Gyeongsang, and Jeju where there are suspicions of price alignment and collusion among nearby gas stations."
Earlier, on the 6th, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) announced it would review the possibility of collusion focusing on gas stations with high fuel prices, and within less than a week it launched on-site inspections of gas stations where indications were found.
Chairperson Ju also said, "We have detected moves by refiners to sharply raise supply unit prices," adding, "Beginning on the 9th, we launched on-site inspections of the four major refiners (GS Caltex, HD Hyundai Oilbank, SK Energy, and S-Oil)." She added, "If actions such as shipment control or collusion that extract undue profits and harm people's livelihoods are confirmed, corresponding stern sanctions will immediately follow."