The government has launched an on-site investigation into the school uniform market amid controversy over high prices. Special inspections will also be conducted to prevent "backdoor" increases in private tutoring fees.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Ku Yun-cheol chaired the second meeting of the "Task Force on Special Management of Consumer Prices" with 13 related ministries at the Sejong Government Complex on the 26th to discuss these price stabilization measures.
The Fair Trade Commission has begun investigating four uniform manufacturers and approximately 40 dealerships nationwide for potential collusion. Allegations of bid-rigging among uniform companies in the Gwangju region, which have been under investigation, will be submitted for review at a subcommittee meeting on the 6th of next month.
The Ministry of Education will conduct a comprehensive survey of uniform prices and supplier conditions at approximately 5,700 middle and high schools nationwide from the 27th of this month through the 16th of next month. Based on these findings, the ministry will examine pricing adequacy and distribution structures while also reviewing types of unfair practices. Additionally, formal suit-style uniforms, which have been criticized as expensive and uncomfortable, will be gradually phased out in favor of casual-style uniforms.
Special inspections of private tutoring fees will be conducted through March, focusing on illegal increases such as overcharging tuition, excessive miscellaneous fees, and counting self-study time as instruction time. Penalties for violations will be significantly strengthened, with fines increasing from the current 3 million won to 10 million won. New surcharges will also be introduced to recover illicit gains from excess tuition. Whistleblower rewards will be raised tenfold, from the current 100,000-200,000 won range to 1-2 million won.
The tariff quota system will also undergo a complete overhaul. In response to rising exchange rates, oil prices, and inflation concerns, tariff reductions of up to 40 percentage points—totaling more than 1 trillion won annually—have been applied to roughly 100 items each year. However, some importers have been caught stockpiling goods brought in at low tariffs in bonded areas or delaying import declarations to sell at higher prices later.
In response, the government will designate high-risk items as "intensive management items" and extend the mandatory 40-day release requirement—currently applied only to livestock products—to other goods. The penalty threshold for delayed import declarations will be tightened from 30 days to 20 days. The requirement to provide proof of supply within 180 days of import declaration acceptance will be expanded, and companies violating release and distribution requirements will be excluded from future tariff quota allocations. Deliberate stockpiling will be subject to special investigation on charges of tariff evasion.