President Lee Addresses Controversy Over High Costs of Brazilian Eggs

President Lee Jae-myung has called for a strict response to false claims surrounding the high import costs of fresh eggs from Brazil, which have sparked allegations of political collusion.

During a closed Cabinet meeting at the Blue House on October 13, President Lee asked Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryeong how the government is addressing the spread of misinformation regarding Brazilian egg imports.

He emphasized the need to demonstrate that such incitement based on falsehoods does not reflect influence or capability. He added, "The essence of administration is to ensure a stable supply of essentials by increasing sources of imports to address domestic shortages, so that citizens do not experience inconvenience."

The controversy arose during a recent parliamentary audit when it was revealed that the import cost of Brazilian eggs, including transportation and quarantine fees, amounts to approximately 1,300 won per egg, or 39,000 won for a pack of 30. However, these eggs are being sold at large supermarkets for 4,980 won. Some opposition lawmakers criticized this as a waste of taxpayer money and raised suspicions that the import decision was linked to diplomatic relations between South Korea and Brazil.

The Ministry of Agriculture explained that the limited import of Brazilian eggs was a pilot initiative aimed at diversifying the import structure, primarily centered on the United States, in response to supply instability caused by outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza. The possibility of importing from Brazil has been under review since February, and of the 133.24 million eggs imported by the end of September, only 1.12 million, or 0.8%, were from Brazil.