SEOUL, South Korea, March 6, 2026 — The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has initiated formal proceedings in a suspected cartel involving four manufacturers and sellers of starch sweeteners after sending an investigation report to the companies and submitting the case for review by the Commission.
The companies under investigation are Daesang, Sajo CPK, Samyang Corporation and CJ CheilJedang. According to the KFTC Secretariat, the report outlining the alleged conduct, its legal assessment and proposed remedies was delivered to the firms on March 5, 2026, formally opening the adjudication stage.
Investigators concluded that the companies repeatedly and systematically colluded on the sales prices of starch sweeteners between May 2018 and October 2025. The authority estimates that the alleged conduct affected related sales of approximately KRW 6.2 trillion.
Starch sweeteners include starch powders and sugar products derived from corn, such as corn syrup, glucose and high-fructose syrup. These products are used as raw materials in food manufacturing, including noodles and confectionery, as well as in industrial applications such as paper and steel production.
The KFTC’s investigators consider the conduct a serious violation of the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act’s prohibition on price-fixing agreements. They have recommended corrective measures, including orders to reset prices, the imposition of administrative fines and criminal referrals for the companies and relevant executives.
Under the law, the Commission may impose fines of up to 20% of the sales affected by the cartel after completing its deliberation.
The companies will have eight weeks from receiving the report to submit written responses and review the evidence. The Commission said it plans to hold hearings and issue a final decision as soon as the defense process is completed, noting that the case concerns products closely linked to consumer prices.
