Minister Kim Sung-hwan of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said on the 1st, regarding pay-as-you-throw trash bags amid growing supply concerns, "We have so far limited sales on a voluntary basis, but until things stabilize, I think we should impose per-person sales limits like with masks." He had emphasized that there were no problems with the supply of pay-as-you-throw bags, but said a sales restriction measure is necessary.
The Minister appeared on YouTube's "Kim Ou-joon's News Factory: Humility Is Hard" on the morning of the same day and said, "There is no actual disruption to supply and demand, but if some residents buy up a huge amount, inventory runs out," adding, "We have limited sales on a voluntary basis so far, but until things stabilize a bit, I think we should impose per-person sales limits like with masks."
The Minister said that while "in reality there is no disruption to the supply and demand of (pay-as-you-throw bags)," per-person sales limits are under review. The Minister said, "(Manufacturers of pay-as-you-throw bags) are asking for cost increases," adding, "However, the share of costs in the consumer price of pay-as-you-throw bags is very low, so claims that prices will rise two to three times because manufacturers asked to raise costs are fake news."
Some also note that the Minister's remark about "per-person purchase limits" contradicts the repeated emphasis that "there are no problems with the supply of pay-as-you-throw bags." On Mar. 30, the Minister also wrote on his Facebook page, "There is a sufficient supply of pay-as-you-throw bags, so there is no need to worry," adding, "Even in the worst-case scenario, we have prepared thorough measures such as allowing the use of regular bags."