Police Launch Investigation into Four Companies Suspected of Syringe Hoarding

by Ryu Hyunseok

Published 27 Apr.2026 19:05(KST)

Updated 27 Apr.2026 19:23(KST)

The police have launched a full-scale investigation into companies confirmed to have engaged in hoarding and cornering of syringes.

On the morning of the 26th, syringes were being prepared ahead of the first dose of AstraZeneca (AZ) COVID-19 vaccine at Geumcheon-gu Public Health Center in Seoul. Photo by Joint Press Corps

The National Office of Investigation of the Korean National Police Agency announced on the 27th that it had received a complaint from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety regarding the hoarding and cornering of syringes, and assigned the case to the anti-corruption and economic crime investigation units of the respective provincial and municipal police agencies with jurisdiction over the matter.

The investigation targets are four syringe distributors found to have engaged in hoarding and cornering during a special crackdown by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Each case has been assigned to the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency, Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency, Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency, and Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency, respectively.

Previously, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety conducted a special crackdown on syringe distributors nationwide and uncovered 32 companies that violated the notice banning the hoarding and cornering of syringes. Of these, four companies with confirmed violations were reported first to the Korean National Police Agency.

The police stated their firm commitment to respond strictly to illegal activities such as hoarding and cornering, in order to stabilize prices directly affecting the public's daily life and to establish sound distribution practices.

The Korean National Police Agency explained, "Upon receiving the complaint from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, we immediately assigned the cases to the anti-corruption and economic crime investigation units of the respective local police agencies and instructed them to begin investigations swiftly."

In addition, the police plan to broadly collect intelligence related to hoarding and cornering going forward and to strengthen checks on the entire distribution process by cooperating with relevant agencies such as the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

President Lee Jaemyung also ordered a strong response, having shared an article related to syringe hoarding and cornering on X (formerly Twitter) on the 25th. The President stated that, in addition to ongoing crackdowns, he had instructed the Cabinet to take all possible follow-up measures for detected violations, including swift investigations, severe punishment, and the maximum level of administrative sanctions.