The Fair Trade Commission in Korea (KFTC) is investigating 20 shipping operators for colluding on freight charges for services from South Korea to China and Japan.
Two months previously, KFTC had imposed an $81m collective fine on the operators for fixing South Korea-South-east Asia freight rates.
KFTC has sent review reports to the shipping lines, saying it is investigating allegations that they fixed freight rates on South Korea-China and South Korea-Japan routes for 17 years.
The shipping companies are alleged to have failed to report collusion and unilateral acts of raising freight rates to the minister of oceans and fisheries, which is required by Korea’s Shipping Act.