Start of National Audit... Distribution Industry Focuses on 'E-commerce' This Year

Focus on Delivery Platforms Benefiting from COVID-19
Regarding Unfair Trade Practices by Franchise Headquarters, Including Able C&C and Hite Jinro Beverage

On the 7th, when the first state audit of the 21st National Assembly began, the corridor of the National Assembly standing committee showed a quieter appearance compared to previous years. This state audit implemented measures such as limiting the number of seats to minimize the number of people entering and exiting as a COVID-19 prevention measure. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-sun] As the curtain rises on the first National Assembly inspection of the 21st National Assembly, this year's inspection related to distribution companies is expected to discuss issues such as the unfair practices of delivery platforms that benefited from COVID-19, coexistence measures for small merchants, and product hygiene management. This year, e-commerce company officials, instead of offline large retail companies who were regular attendees, have been listed as key witnesses.

According to the related industry on the 8th, the Political Affairs Committee will have witnesses such as Cho Jung-yeol, CEO of Able C&C, and Cho Un-ho, President of Hite Jinro Beverage, appear at the inspection held that day. Seo Kyung-bae, Chairman of Amorepacific Group, will not attend due to health reasons. The Political Affairs Committee plans to question them about unfair trade practices by franchise headquarters.

On the same day, the Industry, Trade, Small and Medium Venture Business Committee (Sanja Committee) will hold an inspection of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korean Intellectual Property Office, with witnesses including Kang Shin-bong, CEO of Delivery Hero Korea, and the CEO of Woowa Brothers. During the inspection, lawmakers are expected to question the corporate merger review of Baedal Minjok and Yogiyo and coexistence measures with small business owners and self-employed merchants. Regarding the controversy over infringement of neighborhood commercial districts, Lim Young-rok, CEO of Shinsegae Property, is scheduled to appear as a witness. Previously, Lim Young-rok appeared at last year's inspection due to the Starfield neighborhood commercial district infringement controversy.

At the Health and Welfare Committee inspection held on the 13th, Ben Verhaert, CEO of OB Beer, will be questioned regarding product hygiene management.

Meanwhile, representatives of large offline retail companies, who have been targets of the inspection every year, avoided being selected as witnesses this year. Hyung Tae-jun, Vice President of Emart, Lim Seong-bok, Executive Director of Lotte Group, and Byun Kwang-yoon, CEO of eBay Korea, were initially listed as witnesses for the National Assembly inspection but were later withdrawn.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.