It is the first case for a revived investigation unit once feared as the “grim reaper” of corporate Korea, industry sources said.
The Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) is understood to have found signs that the three companies colluded for several years on products including items such as kimchi, tofu, and edible oils.
The FTC's special investigation task force was launched earlier this month. It revives the commission's investigation bureau 21 years after it was dismantled.
The task force's choice of food collusion as its first case is widely seen as a sign that the regulator considers violations in everyday essentials a grave concern, as they weigh directly on household budgets.
“We will make full use of our investigative capabilities to swiftly and intensively examine unfair practices in sectors closely tied to people's daily lives,” FTC Chairman Ju Biung-ghi said on Sept. 21, describing the unit's mandate.
AJP Takeaways
- The Korea Fair Trade Commission's newly launched special investigation task force raided Daesang, Ottogi and CJ CheilJedang on Oct. 14, 2026, over suspected collusion on processed food, according to industry sources.
- The probe is believed to cover several years of possible collusion on kimchi, tofu, edible oils, instant rice, fermented sauces and holiday gift sets.
- The task force was launched in early October 2026 and revives the Fair Trade Commission's investigation bureau 21 years after it was dismantled, with a mandate to target unfair practices in sectors tied to daily life.
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