Lee warns of monitoring, sanctions against unfair price hikes | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
OK By Kim Eun-jung SEOUL, March 12 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday the government will closely monitor the prices of major items and impose sanctions on companies that unfairly raise prices in an effort to ease cost burdens and stabilize inflation. Lee issued the warning on the social media platform X, sharing a link to a news report about companies lowering prices for instant noodles and cooking oil. "Reducing product prices is not easy, but the government will ease the burden on the public through close market monitoring and inflation management," Lee wrote. "Companies should no longer unfairly raise prices by exploiting their monopolistic positions." Lee ordered law enforcement authorities, the corporate watchdog and the tax service to closely monitor, investigate and impose sanctions on unfair practices, including price collusion and abuse of monopolistic positions. President Lee Jae Myung presides over a meeting with senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on March 12, 2026. (Yonhap) ejkim@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles (LEAD) Gov't to implement fuel price cap system starting midnight to help ease cost burdens Nongshim, Samyang to cut ramyeon prices in line with gov't cost stabilization efforts Keywords #Lee #inflation Articles with issue keywords Most Liked U.S. transport aircraft spotted departing Osan Air Base amid Patriot relocation speculation (News Focus) Topping 10 mln, 'The King's Warden' offers rare boost to Korean cinema (News Focus) USFK's relocation of military assets to Middle East raises concerns about Seoul's capability to deter N.K. threats (News Focus) How 'The King's Warden' captured 10 mln Korean viewers BTS expands Gwanghwamun concert capacity to 22,000 with added standing zones Most Saved (News Focus) How 'The King's Warden' captured 10 mln Korean viewers (News Focus) Topping 10 mln, 'The King's Warden' offers rare boost to Korean cinema U.S. transport aircraft spotted departing Osan Air Base amid Patriot relocation speculation (LEAD) S. Korean Embassy in Beijing N.K. leader inspects munitions factory prev Lee warns of monitoring, sanctions against unfair price hikes Next Lee warns of monitoring, sanctions against unfair price hikes

## Article Content
Facebook
X
More
Pinterest
Linked in
Tumblr
Reddit
Facebook Messenger
Copy URL
URL is copied.
OK
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, March 12 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday the government will closely monitor the prices of major items and impose sanctions on companies that unfairly raise prices in an effort to ease cost burdens and stabilize inflation.
Lee issued the warning on the social media platform X, sharing a link to a news report about companies lowering prices for instant noodles and cooking oil.
"Reducing product prices is not easy, but the government will ease the burden on the public through close market monitoring and inflation management," Lee wrote. "Companies should no longer unfairly raise prices by exploiting their monopolistic positions."
Lee ordered law enforcement authorities, the corporate watchdog and the tax service to closely monitor, investigate and impose sanctions on unfair practices, including price collusion and abuse of monopolistic positions.
During a meeting with senior aides earlier in the day, Lee also instructed the government to identify sectors that are making unfair profits and take necessary measures.
On Thursday, the government designated 23 key items, such as petroleum products, rice and telecommunications fees, for special price monitoring amid resource supply concerns in the wake of the Middle East crisis.
President Lee Jae Myung presides over a meeting with senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on March 12, 2026. (Yonhap)
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
Related Articles
(LEAD) Gov't to implement fuel price cap system starting midnight to help ease cost burdens
Nongshim, Samyang to cut ramyeon prices in line with gov't cost stabilization efforts
Keywords
#Lee
#inflation
Articles with issue keywords
Most Liked
U.S. transport aircraft spotted departing Osan Air Base amid Patriot relocation speculation
(News Focus) Topping 10 mln, 'The King's Warden' offers rare boost to Korean cinema
(News Focus) USFK's relocation of military assets to Middle East raises concerns about Seoul's capability to deter N.K. threats
(News Focus) How 'The King's Warden' captured 10 mln Korean viewers
BTS expands Gwanghwamun concert capacity to 22,000 with added standing zones
Most Saved
(News Focus) How 'The King's Warden' captured 10 mln Korean viewers
(News Focus) Topping 10 mln, 'The King's Warden' offers rare boost to Korean cinema
U.S. transport aircraft spotted departing Osan Air Base amid Patriot relocation speculation
(LEAD) S. Korea to receive over 6 mln barrels of crude oil from UAE: Cheong Wa Dae
Lee says to swiftly introduce fuel price cap as Mideast crisis intensifies
Most Viewed Photos
N. Korea's cruise missile test from destroyer
N.K. leader inspects munitions factory
New photos displayed at N. Korean Embassy in Beijing
N.K. leader inspects munitions factory
prev
Lee warns of monitoring, sanctions against unfair price hikes
Next
Lee warns of monitoring, sanctions against unfair price hikes

---

## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
- President Lee Jae Myung presides over a meeting with senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on March 12, 2026. (Yonhap) ejkim@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles (LEAD) Gov't to implement fuel price cap system starting midnight to help ease cost burdens Nongshim, Samyang to cut ramyeon prices in line with gov't cost stabilization efforts Keywords #Lee #inflation Articles with issue keywords Most Liked U.S. transport aircraft spotted departing Osan Air Base amid Patriot relocation speculation (News Focus) Topping 10 mln, 'The King's Warden' offers rare boost to Korean cinema (News Focus) USFK's relocation of military assets to Middle East raises concerns about Seoul's capability to deter N.K. threats (News Focus) How 'The King's Warden' captured 10 mln Korean viewers BTS expands Gwanghwamun concert capacity to 22,000 with added standing zones Most Saved (News Focus) How 'The King's Warden' captured 10 mln Korean viewers (News Focus) Topping 10 mln, 'The King's Warden' offers rare boost to Korean cinema U.S. transport aircraft spotted departing Osan Air Base amid Patriot relocation speculation (LEAD) S.

### Implications
- OK By Kim Eun-jung SEOUL, March 12 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday the government will closely monitor the prices of major items and impose sanctions on companies that unfairly raise prices in an effort to ease cost burdens and stabilize inflation.
- Lee issued the warning on the social media platform X, sharing a link to a news report about companies lowering prices for instant noodles and cooking oil. "Reducing product prices is not easy, but the government will ease the burden on the public through close market monitoring and inflation management," Lee wrote. "Companies should no longer unfairly raise prices by exploiting their monopolistic positions." Lee ordered law enforcement authorities, the corporate watchdog and the tax service to closely monitor, investigate and impose sanctions on unfair practices, including price collusion and abuse of monopolistic positions.
- President Lee Jae Myung presides over a meeting with senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on March 12, 2026. (Yonhap) ejkim@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles (LEAD) Gov't to implement fuel price cap system starting midnight to help ease cost burdens Nongshim, Samyang to cut ramyeon prices in line with gov't cost stabilization efforts Keywords #Lee #inflation Articles with issue keywords Most Liked U.S. transport aircraft spotted departing Osan Air Base amid Patriot relocation speculation (News Focus) Topping 10 mln, 'The King's Warden' offers rare boost to Korean cinema (News Focus) USFK's relocation of military assets to Middle East raises concerns about Seoul's capability to deter N.K. threats (News Focus) How 'The King's Warden' captured 10 mln Korean viewers BTS expands Gwanghwamun concert capacity to 22,000 with added standing zones Most Saved (News Focus) How 'The King's Warden' captured 10 mln Korean viewers (News Focus) Topping 10 mln, 'The King's Warden' offers rare boost to Korean cinema U.S. transport aircraft spotted departing Osan Air Base amid Patriot relocation speculation (LEAD) S.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers lee, prices, news topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 459.