With domestic fuel prices unstable due to the Middle East situation, police said they will pay up to 500 million won in rewards for significant tips related to illegal acts such as hoarding and stockpiling.
Park Sung-ju, head of the National Office of Investigation (NOI) at the Korean National Police Agency, said in a statement on the 16th, "Illegal acts related to oil prices are serious crimes that threaten the livelihoods of ordinary people and disrupt market order," and stated accordingly.
The Deputy Minister said, "We will focus enforcement capabilities on crimes that disrupt consumer prices, such as fraudulent receipt of subsidies related to petroleum and the manufacture and distribution of fake oil, and if illegal acts are confirmed, we will conduct swift and proactive investigations and impose strong penalties in accordance with the law and principles."
Police are currently investigating six illegal acts related to oil prices. An official at the Korean National Police Agency said at a regular press briefing that day, "Most involve stockpiling, and one case is an example of arresting a criminal ring for 'unlicensed oil sales,' in which an illegal business obtained petroleum and sold it to consumers."
They are also monitoring fake news related to the Middle East situation. Police asked the Korea Communications Standards Commission to delete a total of 298 items, including content that disparages a particular religion.