Fair Trade Commission Launches Investigation into Hanssem, Livart, and Others over Suspected Collusion in Special Sales Furniture Pricing

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] The Fair Trade Commission is reportedly investigating allegations of bid-rigging in special-priced furniture tenders by furniture companies such as Hanssem and Hyundai Livart.

According to industry sources on the 25th, the FTC's Cartel Investigation Division recently sent investigators to these companies to conduct on-site inspections. The FTC is known to be examining suspicions that the companies colluded during the bidding process for special-priced furniture. Special-priced furniture refers to the furniture that is included as standard when constructing apartments, etc.

Previously, in 2020, the FTC also uncovered collusion among building material companies in bids for balcony installation work in reconstruction apartments. At that time, four companies were fined a total of 600 million won in penalties.