Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryung stated today (the 7th) that "the dissolution order was not issued against the Korea Egg Producers Association because the Fair Trade Commission made a collusion ruling, but rather because it engaged in actions that run counter to the purpose of its establishment."

During the parliamentary audit of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) by the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, Minister Song responded to criticism from Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Lim Mi-ae—who claimed that "the entire process from the FTC's request for a collusion investigation to its decision was a violent process carried out with a predetermined conclusion by MAFRA"—by saying, "That is an unreasonable remark."

Minister Song explained, "In the case of the Egg Producers Association, its establishment requirements state that it must not publicize prices," adding, "Because it engaged in such behavior despite multiple warnings, we issued a dissolution order based on that."

Previously in May, the Fair Trade Commission issued a corrective order and imposed a fine of 594 million won on the association for determining and notifying egg production and sales farms of baseline local transaction prices from January 2023 to January 2026. Based on this, MAFRA revoked the association's establishment permit effective July 29.

In protest, the association filed an administrative lawsuit, and the Seoul Administrative Court suspended the effect of MAFRA's permit revocation disposition until 30 days after the ruling on the merits at the end of August.

Subsequently, the Seoul High Court partially accepted the association's application to suspend the execution of the FTC's disposition prohibiting prohibited acts by business associations last month, conditionally suspending the effect of the order prohibiting acts related to the provision of price information.

In addition, regarding criticisms that "the government is trying to solve the egg problem through imports" and "pushed for egg imports while undermining the domestic production base," Minister Song countered, "The public is struggling because eggs are expensive and in short supply. We imported them as a means to resolve that situation, and describing it as trampling on our farmers is an excessive expression."

(Photo: Yonhap News)