The government is set to inspect the implementation of price labeling for traditional holiday items ahead of Chuseok. In light of recent fires at logistics facilities, safety management will also be intensified at 1,148 large stores nationwide, focusing on their logistics spaces and fire, electrical, and gas facilities.
On September 3, the Ministry of Industry announced that it will work with local governments and relevant agencies to check compliance with the price labeling system and the safety management status of large stores.
The inspections will take place from today until September 23, targeting large and medium-sized stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, and neighborhood shops. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Korea Consumer Agency will also participate.
Items under scrutiny include traditional holiday goods such as fruits and fish, which are expected to see increased demand and potential price hikes. Inspectors will verify compliance with regulations regarding the display of selling prices, unit prices, and the prohibition of recommended retail price displays. Stores with frequent complaints or violations related to price labeling will be prioritized for inspection.
The Ministry plans to encourage compliance through guidance and publicity, but it will impose administrative penalties, including corrective recommendations and fines, on stores that repeatedly violate the price labeling system. Issues identified during inspections will be considered for system improvements.
Safety management inspections at large stores will be conducted from September 7 to 18, covering all 1,148 stores. Local governments, the Fire Agency, the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation, and the Korea Gas Safety Corporation will conduct joint inspections alongside self-checks by the stores.
The Ministry will examine safety measures for fire, electrical, and gas facilities, as well as strategies to prevent crowd-related accidents. Given the recent spate of fires and safety incidents at logistics facilities, particular attention will be paid to fire vulnerabilities in logistics spaces, including inventory storage areas within large stores.
Inspectors will check the management of stored goods and the maintenance of evacuation and fire prevention facilities, taking immediate action to rectify any identified hazards.
Lee Gyu-bong, Director of the Ministry of Industry's Small and Medium Enterprise Policy Bureau, stated, "We will thoroughly inspect compliance with the price labeling system to support price stability and enhance on-site inspections to address risks at large stores in advance."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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