Gov't vows zero tolerance against hoarding, price collusion as it moves to stabilize supplies of medical products
Published: 07 Apr. 2026, 15:37
Updated: 07 Apr. 2026, 17:05
![Health Minister Jung Eun-kyeong, center, speaks during a joint briefing on medical supplies at the government complex in Jongno District, central Seoul, on April 7. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/04/07/14db8a1a-af86-4125-bc67-000155abe372.jpg)
Health Minister Jung Eun-kyeong, center, speaks during a joint briefing on medical supplies at the government complex in Jongno District, central Seoul, on April 7. [YONHAP]
The government said on Tuesday that it will take a hard-line stance against hoarding, price collusion and other unfair practices as it moves to stabilize supplies of medical products.
Officials stressed that they will respond strictly to any activities that disrupt market order at a joint briefing by the Ministry of Health and Safety, the Fair Trade Commission, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy that same day.
Rising international oil prices, driven by the Iran war, are increasing the price of raw materials and the production costs of medical products, raising the risk of supply instability for some items.
In response, the government plans to activate a full monitoring system across the entire supply chain, from production to distribution. Authorities plan to conduct daily checks on raw material procurement and manufacturing conditions at production facilities.
Key items, including IV fluid packaging materials, syringes and needles, will be prioritized to ensure a stable supply of medical products, officials said.
They added that inventory levels for major medical devices remain stable. However, they noted that supply concerns have emerged for certain items, particularly at smaller clinics, which has prompted the government to consider additional measures such as joint distribution.
At the distribution stage, regulators will step up inspections targeting practices that undermine market order, including hoarding, shipment controls and price-fixing. Relevant agencies will continuously monitor price trends and supply conditions and impose swift investigations and penalties — such as fines — if violations are confirmed.
Officials at the briefing emphasized that medical products are directly tied to public health and warned that attempts to exploit market anxiety for profit will be treated as a serious threat and met with zero tolerance.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY JEONG JAE-HONG [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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