"44,000 Won for a Tray of Eggs"... Criticism Over 'High-Cost Imports'

[Anchor]

Controversy has arisen as the import price of Brazilian eggs brought in by the government to stabilize soaring egg prices in the wake of the avian influenza outbreak reached 44,000 won per tray. Criticism continued during the parliamentary audit regarding the background and process of the imports.

[Reporter]

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

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

During the parliamentary audit of the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), criticisms were raised over such high-cost imports.

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

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

Criticism was also raised that the imports were pushed through excessively.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs sent an official letter to aT last March instructing it to import Brazilian eggs so they could be distributed during the Easter season, and aT issued an invitation to bid, but it fell through as no companies met the qualification requirements.

Brazilian eggs were imported only in July after completing relevant procedures.

[Kim Chang-guk / Acting President of aT: (Importation) requires export farms to be registered with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, but they were not registered at the time.]

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

In response, aT explained that the imports from Denmark and Brazil, alongside the US and Thailand, were intended to diversify import sources, and that they were imported in small quantities in line with 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 0.8% of the total.

Suspicions were also raised during the parliamentary audit as to 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.

(Camera: Lee Jaeyoung | Video Editing: Kim Jongmi | Design: Taeyoung)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.