The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) announced on June 3 that it has officially opened the Gyeongin Regional Fair Trade Office in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, and begun full operations.
KFTC Chairman Joo Byung-ki, Democratic Party lawmaker Min Byeong-deok, Anyang Mayor Choi Dae-ho, and Korea Consumer Agency President Yoon Soo-hyun attended the opening ceremony.
The new office will have 50 staff members across four divisions, investigating violations in subcontracting, franchising, distribution, and e-commerce. Previously, the KFTC's Seoul office handled all cases in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Gangwon provinces based on the location of investigated parties. Going forward, the Gyeongin office will exclusively handle cases in Gyeonggi and Incheon.
The KFTC expects the new office to reduce the Seoul office's workload, shorten case processing times, and improve the effectiveness of damage relief for victims.
"Active measures such as expanding KFTC investigative personnel are urgently needed to address unfair market practices and exploitative customs, and to create a fair market environment," Chairman Joo said. "With the launch of the Gyeongin office, we expect to relieve the overload of cases and complaints in the metropolitan area and enable swift handling by concentrating resources on important cases."
The office opening comes after the KFTC added 167 positions last year following President Lee Jae-myung's inauguration. At a cabinet meeting last month, President Lee checked on progress, asking "I talked about 500 people during the election—how many have been added so far?" and directed officials to accelerate workforce expansion.