[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Hong Nam-ki emphasized on the 3rd, "There must never be any disruptive acts regarding safety supplies such as masks needed by each citizen."
Accordingly, the government will activate joint inspection and crackdown teams between central ministries and local governments and plans to implement a notice banning hoarding as early as the 6th.
Welkeeps previously attracted attention when President Park Jong-jin stated, "We have abandoned the idea of making money by exploiting public safety and disasters and have not raised prices by even one won."
On the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Hong visited the headquarters of Welkeeps, a health mask manufacturer in Gangdong-gu, saying, "Joint inspection and crackdown teams of 30 central ministries and local governments are already in operation, and the government is cracking down strongly."
He also stated, "In cases of market disruption such as price increases through collusion, administrative and criminal penalties will be imposed according to relevant laws."
The government also plans to take emergency supply adjustment measures under the Price Stabilization Act if mask supply stability is undermined.
Meanwhile, the government has decided to prepare measures to supply masks to vulnerable groups.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
