'Konkuk University, Seoul National University, Andong University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation' Collusion in Research Service Bidding... Fair Trade Commission Issues Corrective Orders and Fines

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Fair Trade Commission has decided to impose corrective orders and a total fine of 75 million KRW on four businesses, including Konkuk University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, for colluding on the winning bidder, accomplices, and bid prices in the research service bid commissioned by the Korea Environment Corporation. This is the first sanction against university industry-academic cooperation foundations related to bid rigging.

According to the Fair Trade Commission, four businesses including Konkuk University, Seoul National University, Andong University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundations, and the Korea Water Environment Research Institute participated in the bids for the "Pilot Project Research Service for Application and Dissemination of Optimal Management Techniques for Nonpoint Source Pollution Control in Rural Areas" commissioned by the Korea Environment Corporation in March 2017 and April-May 2018. They pre-agreed on the winning bidder, accomplices, and bid prices and executed this agreement.

In the 2017 bid, Konkuk University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation won with a bid rate of 95.43%, and in the 2018 bid, the joint consortium led by Konkuk University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation won with a bid rate of 92.96%.

A Fair Trade Commission official stated, "We imposed sanctions on the industry-academic cooperation foundations, which are the entities participating in the bids and signing contracts, holding them responsible for the collusion involving actual university professors," adding, "This is expected to contribute to establishing competitive order in the public sector, especially in research service bids involving university professors."