Kyong-ho Choo “Price stabilization is a policy priority”… A role for consumer organizations

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Chu Kyung-ho met with representatives of consumer groups on the 17th and said, “We will continue to respond with price stability as a policy priority.”

At a luncheon meeting with representatives of six consumer groups, Deputy Prime Minister Choo said, “Recently, the consumer price increase rate entered the 3% range (3.7% in April) in 14 months, and the living price increase rate also recorded 3% level in 19 months. Although the trend of slowing prices continues, there are uncertainties such as international energy price volatility,” he said.

It has been about nine months since Deputy Prime Minister Chu held a meeting with representatives of consumer groups since August last year.

He said, “The role of consumer groups is important to stabilize the prices of items that are closely related to people’s daily lives, such as eating out and food. did.

Consumer groups pointed out that the price burden felt by consumers is still high due to accumulated high prices, and requested the government’s active response.

Kang Jeong-hwa, chairman of the Consumer Federation of Korea, said, “The burden felt by consumers has not yet been completely resolved.” said.

Nam Sang-taek, vice chairman of the Consumer Education Federation, said, “In order to stabilize the price of eating out, which has a great impact on inflation, it is necessary to expand restaurants with good prices.”

At the meeting, concerns about public utility rates such as electricity and gas rates were also raised.

Yu Mi-hwa, chairman of the National Council for Green Consumer Nature, said, “There is a concern that public rates such as electricity and transportation rates will further shrink consumer life in the era of high prices.” need to do,” he said.

Moon Mi-ran, chairman of the Consumer Citizens’ Group, said, “Policies that are closely related to people’s lives, such as public tariff hikes, need to be guided so that all citizens can check the degree of impact.” is necessary,” he said.

The Korea Council of Consumers’ Organizations announced that it would conduct a more active price monitoring campaign by regularly surveying the prices of lifestyle-friendly products that consumers buy a lot and producing high-quality professional reports.

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