Lee Announces Tougher Sanctions on Commodity Collusion President Lee Jae Myung addressed senior aides on 19 February 2026, declaring price‑fixing in sugar, flour, school uniforms and housing “rampant” and a “cancerous force” that erodes consumer trust and market development [1][2]. He framed the issue as a systemic threat to fair competition and national economic growth. The meeting, held behind closed doors at Cheong Wa Dae, underscored the administration’s high‑level focus on curbing collusion.

Proposed Penalties Include Permanent Market Expulsion Lee urged that firms or individuals repeatedly engaged in price fixing be permanently barred from the market, supplementing higher fines and confiscation of illicit gains with this extreme measure [1][2]. He emphasized moving beyond criminal punishment toward substantive economic sanctions. The proposal signals a potential shift toward the toughest anti‑collusion regime in recent Korean history.

Policy Linked to Broader Housing‑Price Crackdown Lee connected the anti‑collusion drive to his wider effort to stabilize soaring housing costs, noting upcoming capital‑gains tax changes that will end in May [1]. He urged owners of multiple properties to sell before the exemption expires, tying tax policy to the anti‑inflation agenda. The housing‑price focus reinforces the administration’s goal of an “economy for all.”

Lee Frames Reform as Part of ‘Economy for All’ Vision Emphasizing a “rational, fair social order,” Lee positioned the crackdown as essential to building a more equitable economy [1]. He described his role as the nation’s “foremost servant” and called for political cooperation to achieve these reforms. The rhetoric links market discipline with broader social justice objectives.