The prosecution, which is investigating allegations of bidding collusion by domestic furniture companies such as Hanssem and Hyundai Livart, has launched a forced investigation.
The Fair Trade Investigation Department of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office announced on Feb. 1 that it is searching 10 offices of furniture companies related to the bid rigging case for apartment furniture.
In addition to Hanssem and Hyundai Livart, major domestic furniture companies such as Enex, Nexis, and Uami were included in the prosecution's search and seizure.
Prosecutors have been investigating furniture companies and construction companies that received goods from the furniture makers on charges of violating the Fair Trade Act and the Framework Act on the Construction Industry, believing that local furniture companies colluded in bidding to enter new apartments in the form of built-in.
The prosecution is reportedly looking into the bidding process for special sale furniture that has entered 400 apartment complexes nationwide, including Jamsil Lotte World Tower, since 2015.
The prosecution plans to exercise its right to request a complaint from the Fair Trade Commission after completing an investigation into major people.
