Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung dismissed concerns over trash bag price increases, saying "this is a matter determined by local government ordinances, so there will be no sudden hikes."
"Many people are worried about prices as oil costs rise due to the Middle East conflict," Yoon wrote on Facebook on Tuesday. "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety is working closely with local governments to manage the situation so that this burden does not translate into higher local public utility charges."
"We have requested each local government to freeze local public utility charges — including city gas rates, water and sewage fees, and trash bag prices — for the first half of 2026, and we plan to maintain this freeze policy," he added.
"The Ministry of the Interior and Safety will also take responsibility alongside local governments and carefully monitor the situation to the end," Yoon stressed.
