This article was displayed on the ChosunBiz RM Report site at 4:30 p.m. on Apr. 30, 2026.
With printing paper prices surging more than 70% in three years due to price-fixing by domestic paper companies, the publishing and printing industries are moving to file damages suits. As illegality has been confirmed by the Korea Fair Trade Commission's detection of collusion, analysts say the likelihood of civil liability for damages being recognized is high.
◇ Paper company collusion that fueled "bookflation"
According to legal sources on the 30th, law firm LKB Pyeongsan is preparing to file damages suits against major paper companies. It distributed proposals inviting participation in the suits to newspapers, publishers, and printing companies, and some firms are said to be reviewing whether to join.
Earlier, on the 23rd, the Korea Fair Trade Commission imposed a total of 338.3 billion won in penalty surcharges and corrective orders on six paper companies—Moorim SP, Moorim Paper, Moorim P&P, Hankuk Paper, Hansol Paper, and Hongwon Paper—for colluding on printing paper sales prices. It said the amount is the fifth largest penalty surcharge the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has imposed in a collusion case.
The Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) found that from Feb. 2021 to Dec. 2024, these companies held at least 60 meetings and agreed on and carried out seven rounds of printing paper price hikes.
As a result of the collusion, printing paper prices rose an average of 71%. Printing paper is a key materials and supplies used to produce books, textbooks, and magazines. The price spike directly led to higher production costs in the publishing and printing industries, which in turn was passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices.
In fact, the so-called "bookflation (book+inflation)" phenomenon has become pronounced recently in the publishing industry. According to the Publication Industry Promotion Agency (KPIPA), from 2021 to 2024, the period of collusion, 28,296 titles raised their list prices, while only 4,531 titles lowered prices. In other words, there were more than six times as many price increases as decreases. At the time, the publishing industry cited higher paper costs as the main reason for price hikes.
◇ Legal community: "High likelihood damages liability will be recognized"
The legal community believes that because the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) investigation confirmed the collusion and the causal link to price increases, there is a high likelihood that liability for damages will be recognized.
LKB Pyeongsan is considering a plan to claim damages calculated at about 10% of printing paper purchase amounts during the collusion period. For example, a company that bought 500 million won worth of printing paper during that time would seek compensation of around 50 million won. However, the final recognized amount may vary depending on court appraisal and economic analysis.
Any company that purchased products from the paper companies during the collusion period can take part in the suits. This includes publishers, newspapers, and promotional materials producers that procured printing paper through distributors or agencies rather than direct transaction with paper companies. Individual consumers can also participate if they can prove their purchases.
A representative of LKB Pyeongsan said, "Since printing paper sales prices rose more than 70% during the collusion period, the impact on the market was significant," and added, "We expect the publishing industry to actively participate in the lawsuits to recover damages and for the results to be returned to consumers."
Meanwhile, this case aligns with the recent trend of "collusion damages lawsuits." Previously, the head of a local confectionery company filed a damages suit against sugar and flour makers accused of colluding on sugar and flour prices, and the Korea Confectionery Association is also reviewing a class-action suit.