Going forward, the permitted volume for direct transactions between ethanol manufacturers and liquor manufacturers will be expanded to 10%. Ethanol is pure alcohol made by fermenting raw materials containing starch or sugar and is used as a main ingredient in soju and other spirits.
The government had limited the permitted volume for direct transactions between liquor manufacturers and ethanol manufacturers to 2% to secure liquor tax through direct deals. As a result, most volumes were sold through Daehan Ethanol Sales, the official ethanol distributor specified in National Tax Service notices, but authorities judged that competition among liquor manufacturers was restricted and plan to increase the permitted volume for direct transactions.
The Korea Fair Trade Commission announced on the 25th a plan to improve competition-restricting regulations for the first half of 2026 that includes these measures. The Korea Fair Trade Commission identifies competition-restricting regulations every year and continuously pursues institutional improvements through consultations with relevant ministries.
That day, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said it would expand the permitted volume for direct transactions between ethanol manufacturers and liquor manufacturers from the current 2% to 10%. The Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) explained it decided to expand the direct transaction ratio because, under a structure in which ethanol wholesalers purchased ethanol from liquor manufacturers at a single price and sold it, there had not been sufficient quality or price competition among liquor manufacturers.
The Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) will also expand the business areas of household waste collection and transport contractors. Until now, household waste collection and transport contractors could operate only in specific cities, counties, or districts where they had obtained business permits. However, to activate competition, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) will revise the system so that contractors from other areas can participate in competitive bidding.
In addition, when the financial authorities designate auditors for listed companies and others, they will grant qualifications so that mid-sized and small accounting firms can audit large companies. Until now, the size of accounting firms eligible to audit varied by a corporation's asset size.
However, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) plans to create a special provision allowing mid-sized and small accounting firms that have achieved excellent results in audit quality evaluations to audit large corporations.