The Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) is taking steps to prevent collusion among major school uniform manufacturers ahead of the new school year bidding period.
On August 10, the KFTC held a meeting at the Korea Consumer Agency in Seoul with representatives from five major school uniform manufacturers: Hyungji Elite, Ivy Club, The Engine (School Looks), Smart F&D, and Hojeon Retail (Centen).
The meeting was organized to raise awareness about bid rigging in the school uniform industry as the new school year bidding season approaches.
During the meeting, the KFTC shared updates on monitoring signs of collusion related to school uniform bidding that has been ongoing since May, urging the industry to implement thorough preventive measures. In response, the manufacturers announced voluntary compliance measures, including expanded employee training, distribution of sales guidelines, and enhanced self-inspections to prevent bid rigging.
Recently, the KFTC has intensified sanctions against unfair trading practices in essential goods, including school uniforms. In May, the commission established a plan to investigate collusion in school uniform bidding and began monitoring dealerships. To prevent habitual collusion due to a lack of understanding of legal provisions, the KFTC is also collaborating with local education offices to provide guidance on compliance with fair trade laws.
Additionally, the KFTC submitted a report on bid rigging cases involving school uniform dealerships in Ulsan, Yongin (Giheung and Cheoin), and Yeongcheon, which were subject to an ex officio investigation in the first half of this year, to the commission in June, and further deliberation is expected.
Oh Haeng-rok, head of the KFTC's Cartel Investigation Bureau, emphasized, "To eradicate the chronic collusion that has persisted in the school uniform market, the collective effort of the entire industry is essential," urging manufacturers to actively cooperate to establish a healthy competitive environment in the school uniform market.
On August 10, the KFTC held a meeting at the Korea Consumer Agency in Seoul with representatives from five major school uniform manufacturers: Hyungji Elite, Ivy Club, The Engine (School Looks), Smart F&D, and Hojeon Retail (Centen).
The meeting was organized to raise awareness about bid rigging in the school uniform industry as the new school year bidding season approaches.
During the meeting, the KFTC shared updates on monitoring signs of collusion related to school uniform bidding that has been ongoing since May, urging the industry to implement thorough preventive measures. In response, the manufacturers announced voluntary compliance measures, including expanded employee training, distribution of sales guidelines, and enhanced self-inspections to prevent bid rigging.
Recently, the KFTC has intensified sanctions against unfair trading practices in essential goods, including school uniforms. In May, the commission established a plan to investigate collusion in school uniform bidding and began monitoring dealerships. To prevent habitual collusion due to a lack of understanding of legal provisions, the KFTC is also collaborating with local education offices to provide guidance on compliance with fair trade laws.
Additionally, the KFTC submitted a report on bid rigging cases involving school uniform dealerships in Ulsan, Yongin (Giheung and Cheoin), and Yeongcheon, which were subject to an ex officio investigation in the first half of this year, to the commission in June, and further deliberation is expected.
Oh Haeng-rok, head of the KFTC's Cartel Investigation Bureau, emphasized, "To eradicate the chronic collusion that has persisted in the school uniform market, the collective effort of the entire industry is essential," urging manufacturers to actively cooperate to establish a healthy competitive environment in the school uniform market.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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