Yulchon said South Korea’s fair-trade regulatory environment is changing rapidly under a tougher enforcement posture, including a major staffing increase at the Korea Fair Trade Commission, expanded on-site inspections into alleged collusion in sectors closely tied to daily life, and efforts to raise penalty levels through revisions to the fine guidelines.
The firm said it organized the event to share integrated risk-management strategies that address issues from the KFTC’s enforcement stages through related litigation, aiming to reduce uncertainty for corporate management.
Speakers with experience across the KFTC, the courts and private practice offered analysis in three sessions.
In the first session, Ahn Byung-hoon, a former director general for investigation management at the KFTC, spoke on “2026 KFTC policy and enforcement trends,” reviewing legal and institutional changes being pursued and points companies should watch.
In the second session, Yulchon attorney Hwang Eui-dong, who previously served as presiding judge of the Seoul High Court’s fair-trade division, discussed “recent trends and issues in fair-trade litigation,” examining potential disputes in civil and administrative cases.
“Recent regulatory trends are moving not only toward stronger after-the-fact regulation centered on administrative sanctions, but also toward faster, more proactive relief through civil judicial procedures, and legislation is supporting that direction,” Hwang said. “If a class-action system is later enacted, it could become a risk that threatens a company’s survival. Companies need to understand these changes and respond proactively, including by rechecking comprehensive risk-management systems.”
In the third session, Yulchon attorney Jung Ji-young presented on “the latest trends in the KFTC’s cartel regulation and practical corporate response strategies,” outlining key developments and sharing approaches based on practical experience.
After the presentations, a panel discussion moderated by Yulchon attorney Kim Gyu-hyun featured all speakers and a question-and-answer session on major fair-trade issues.
Yulchon said registration closed soon after invitations were sent, and about 200 corporate representatives attended.
Yoon Jung-geun, head of Yulchon’s fair-trade group, said companies are under greater pressure than ever due to the KFTC’s broad investigations and tougher sanctions. He said he hopes the seminar will serve as a practical guide for companies facing day-to-day compliance challenges.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.