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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] The National Tax Service (NTS) has launched a tax investigation into 31 companies, including franchise headquarters A, over suspected price inflation and financial misconduct.
A is accused of “shrinkflation,” effectively raising food prices by reducing portion sizes while keeping menu prices unchanged, and of using corporate funds to support owner family affiliates. Other allegations include concealed referral fees, misappropriation of executive salaries, and illicit overseas fund transfers.
The probe also targets nine restaurant franchises, four importers who failed to pass on tariff benefits, and seven monopoly or oligopoly companies in construction and furniture manufacturing for collusive practices that inflated consumer prices. The total suspected tax evasion among the 31 companies is approximately KRW 1 trillion.
알파경제 Kim Jisun (stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
