National Investigation Headquarters Launches Special Crackdown on Crimes Disrupting Consumer Prices

Thorough Investigations and Active Use of Seizure and Preservation Measures Before Prosecution

The police are launching a large-scale special crackdown on crimes that disrupt consumer prices affecting people’s livelihoods.

The National Investigation Headquarters of the Korean National Police Agency announced on March 2 that it will conduct a special crackdown on crimes disturbing consumer prices for an eight-month period until October 31. The government, led by the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, has established a special task force of relevant ministers for the oversight of consumer prices and is currently taking action to restore market order. The police crackdown is part of these efforts.

Seoul Seodaemun-gu Police Agency National Investigation Headquarters. Photo by Jin-Hyung Kang

The police plan to conduct a comprehensive investigation focusing on: ▲ acts disrupting price stability such as hoarding and violations of emergency supply adjustment measures ▲ improper third-party intervention in policy funds ▲ ticket scalping ▲ illegal rebate practices in the medical and pharmaceutical fields ▲ illicit use of quota tariffs ▲ housing price collusion ▲ fraudulent receipt of government subsidies ▲ unfair practices ▲ other illegal activities such as violations of the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Private Teaching Institutes, violations of the Door-to-Door Sales Act, evasion of rent increase limits, and unjust acquisition of excessive management fees.

The Korean National Police Agency has formed the "Consumer Price Disruption Crime Task Force," headed by the Director of the Investigation Bureau, to uncover internal intelligence and secure enforcement information through cooperation with relevant government departments. In addition, provincial and local police investigation units and intelligence teams will promptly initiate investigations and also track and recover criminal proceeds.

Park Sungjoo, Commissioner of the National Investigation Headquarters at the Korean National Police Agency, emphasized, "Crimes such as hoarding, violations of emergency supply adjustment measures, and ticket scalping are malicious offenses that undermine price stability and worsen the economic conditions felt by ordinary citizens. We will mobilize all of the police’s investigative capabilities to strongly crack down on crimes that disrupt consumer prices."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.