"44,000 Won per Carton of Eggs"... Criticism Over 'High-Priced Imports'

[Anchor]

Controversy has erupted over the import price of Brazilian eggs brought in by the government to stabilize soaring egg prices, which reached 44,000 won per carton. Questions and criticisms poured out during today's (October 14) parliamentary audit regarding the background and process of why such expensive eggs had to be imported.

This is Chae Heesun reporting.

[Reporter]

The import cost for Brazilian eggs is 1,464 won per piece, coming out to 43,923 won for a carton of 30.

The government injected state funds to supply them to domestic distributors at around 4,300 won per carton, which is about one-tenth of the import cost.

During today's parliamentary audit of the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), criticisms were raised regarding these high-priced imports.

[Kim Yong-tae / National Assembly Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee member (People Power Party): "Even if it is a pilot project, I think it is deeply wrong to bring in eggs that cost 1,464 won each, sell them at one-tenth of the price, and distribute them domestically."]

With U.S. eggs priced at 456 won and Thai eggs at 498 won per piece, the import unit price for Brazilian eggs is three times higher than those from the two countries.

Criticism also emerged that the imports were pushed through recklessly.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs sent an official document to aT last March instructing them to import Brazilian eggs so they could be distributed during the Easter season. Although aT issued a bidding notice, it fell through because no companies met the required qualifications.

Brazilian eggs were not imported until July, after the relevant procedures were completed.

[Kim Chang-guk / Acting President of aT: "(Imports) can only take place once export farms are registered (with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety), but they were not registered at the time."]

[Kim Yong-tae / National Assembly Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee member (People Power Party): "Naturally. Because it was pushed forward in a rushed and reckless manner, the bidding had no choice but to fall through."]

In response, aT explained that the imports from Denmark and Brazil, alongside the U.S. and Thailand, were part of efforts to diversify import sources, adding that they were imported in small quantities to suit a pilot introduction.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs stated that the import value of Brazilian eggs was 1.6 billion won, with the import volume accounting for about 0.8% of the total.

Suspicion was also raised during the audit over whether the import of Brazilian eggs was related to South Korea-Brazil summit diplomacy, but aT denied any connection.

Previously, President Lee Jae-myung ordered a strict response to the dissemination of false information regarding the import of Brazilian eggs.

(Photo reporting: Lee Jae-young, Video editing: Kim Jong-mi, Design: Park Taeyoung)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.