Fair Trade Commission Chair Joo Byeong-ki stated on September 29 that he will "make every effort to restore the justice that has been undermined by the halted Coupang investigation." His remarks suggest a reaffirmation of the commitment to enforce laws protecting the rights of small businesses, which he characterized as a weakening of the system designed to protect economic vulnerable groups.
During an appearance on CBS Radio's "Park Seong-tae's News Show," Joo discussed the ongoing investigation into Coupang.
Last month, from September 19 to 24, the Fair Trade Commission conducted on-site investigations into allegations of violations of the Large-Scale Distribution Industry Act by Coupang. However, the investigation was halted when Coupang claimed it had not been notified of the investigation.
Following this, Coupang filed a lawsuit seeking to cancel the decision and actions related to the on-site investigation, and the court temporarily suspended the effectiveness of the actions for about a month. Joo expressed strong regret during a press conference on September 21, stating, "The last bastion for the economically vulnerable is being completely undermined," and emphasized that the Large-Scale Distribution Industry Act is designed to protect the rights of small businesses, suggesting that public interest should be weighed when assessing violations of defense rights.
On September 23, the court ultimately dismissed the request for a stay of execution. Regarding this decision, Joo noted, "We went out to investigate because there could be sanctions if unfair transactions were forced upon numerous partner companies. It is fortunate that the weight of public interest, which consists of the rights of economic vulnerable groups and hundreds of thousands of small businesses, has been recognized."
Joo also addressed claims of discrimination against Coupang raised in U.S. political circles. After recently completing a visit to the U.S., he stated, "U.S. competition authorities are well aware of the capabilities of Korean competition authorities," adding that it is unnecessary to explicitly state that there is no discrimination against Coupang, as there is mutual trust.
Regarding the launch of a special investigation planning team on October 1, he explained, "As the significance and power of platforms grow, it becomes very difficult to monitor and sanction them. Therefore, there is a need for a specialized organization to flexibly respond to the enforcement of competition law."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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