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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) will significantly expand its organization and workforce as early as the first quarter of next year, aiming to bolster its ability to address consumer-related economic issues and enhance law enforcement capabilities in the digital era.
KFTC Chairperson Joo Byung-ki announced the organizational expansion plan during a press briefing held at the Government Complex Sejong on the 21st.
Under the plan, the KFTC will add a total of 167 personnel, including investigators, adjudication staff, and data analysis experts.
A major focus of the expansion is strengthening oversight in everyday consumer sectors. Reflecting a surge in cases within the franchise and retail industries, the KFTC will separate related functions from the existing M&A Review Bureau and establish a new Franchise & Distribution Review Office, adding 61 staff members dedicated to subcontracting, franchise, and retail cases. This restructuring is expected to accelerate case processing in consumer-facing sectors.
The KFTC will also reinforce its capabilities in cartel, monopoly, and consumer protection areas, assigning 14 additional personnel to respond to increased demand for cartel investigations and rising market concentration.
To improve case handling efficiency in the Seoul metropolitan area, the KFTC will create a new Gyeongin Regional Office, which will oversee Gyeonggi and Incheon. The current Seoul Office covers Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Gangwon—a workload that has resulted in significant case backlog. The new Gyeongin Office will be staffed with 50 employees, helping distribute caseloads more effectively.
알파경제 Kim Jisun (stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
