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Prosecutors stated on the 22nd that they have sought arrest warrants for workers at flour milling companies accused of conspiring to manipulate flour prices.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office’s Fair Trade Investigation Division, led by Na Hee-suk, applied for arrest warrants on the 21st for four current and former executives and employees, including those from Daehan Flour Mills and Sajo Dongaone. They are accused of breaching the Fair Trade Act through coordinated efforts to set flour prices, a basic household item, over multiple years.

Prosecutors suspect that the companies had prior agreements to increase flour prices or regulate shipment quantities. In December of last year, they carried out raids on five flour milling companies, including Daehan Flour Mills, CJ CheilJedang, and Sajo Dongaone, along with associated individuals.

In a cabinet meeting held in September of last year, President Lee Jaemyung raised the potential for cooperation among businesses concerning the rising costs of essential items and directed government departments to take proactive measures. After this, the Korea Fair Trade Commission identified indications of collusion among flour milling companies and carried out on-site inspections targeting seven firms, including Daehan Flour Mills, CJ CheilJedang, Sajo Dongaone, Daesun Flour Mills, Samyang Corporation, Samhwa Flour Mills, and Hantop.

Earlier, prosecutors charged 11 current and former employees of sugar companies in November of last year with colluding to set sugar prices and generating profits amounting to approximately 3 trillion South Korean won, akin to this case.