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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] SEOUL, November 14 — The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) is moving to expand its current nine-member commission to 11 members, according to budget plans submitted to the National Assembly for next year. The commission plans to add one standing commissioner and one non-standing commissioner, marking the first expansion of the body in 28 years.
The number of cases handled by the KFTC has risen sharply—from an annual average of 1,374 in the 1990s to 2,495 cases over the past five years—prompting calls for additional decision-making capacity.
To reinforce its adjudication function, the KFTC will create a Cartel Tribunal Director position and add 21 personnel to the adjudication division. The investigation division will be expanded by 92 personnel, including a new New Industry Subcontract Investigation Division and a Director for Franchise and Retail Oversight to strengthen monitoring of unfair practices in franchise, retail, and agency transactions.
The agency will also upgrade the E-Commerce Monitoring Team to a full division, expand staffing in the Cartel Investigation Bureau, and elevate the Service Cartel Team to a division, requiring 37 additional personnel.
To support advanced enforcement capabilities, the KFTC will establish dedicated roles for economic analysis and digital forensics.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
