Seoul: Prime Minister nominee Kim Min-seok met with food industry representatives Friday to discuss ways to tackle rising consumer prices. The meeting brought together officials from the Korea Food Industry Association, the Korea Foodservice Industry Association, and the Korea Franchise Association, as well as consumer rights groups and experts.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim emphasized that the issue of consumer prices should transcend party politics, advocating for bipartisan cooperation. He highlighted the need for increased transparency in the transactions of items with unclear or opaque distribution processes. Kim stated that prices can no longer be controlled through regulations that ultimately burden consumers.

Addressing the issue of commission fees paid by restaurants to delivery platforms, Kim criticized the “self-regulation” policy of the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration, labeling it a failure. He acknowledged ongoing discussions about the appropriate level of delivery commission fees, including potential legislation. Kim urged the government to monitor developments closely while encouraging the National Assembly to take a proactive stance on the matter.

The meeting was partly in response to President Lee Jae-myung’s remarks at an emergency economic task force meeting on Monday. President Lee questioned the price of a packet of “ramyeon,” or instant noodles, which he said could cost 2,000 won (US$1.50), and called for urgent measures to control prices.