Press Release No. 486, Issued on 30 Jun. 2005 by Park In-rye, Secretary General

Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations
   - Periodic Survey of Staple Commodities: Price of pork rose while price of melons
     declined in June throughout the country

Consumers Korea (Citizens Alliance Researching Consumer Issues)
   - [Statement] KFDA Should Immediately Amend Irradiated Food Marking Standards

Seoul YMCA Citizens’ Mediation Center
   - Street Campaign Held to Reduce Mobile Phone Value-added Service Rates

Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations

Periodic Survey of Staple Commodities: Price of pork rose while price of melons declined in June throughout the country

 A June survey of staple commodity prices included melon and water melon as seasonal items. Prices declined sharply from the preceding month with increased crops of melons, a representative summer fruit, as summer peak approaches.
 The consumer price of stable commodities rose slightly over the preceding month across the country. The price of pork increased by the greatest margin, while the price of melons declined sharply. Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do saw the greatest increase in the price of pork, by 16.3%, from 1,595 won in May to 1,855 won in June. Goyang-si was also the area where the price of melons declined most, by 47.0%, from 1,838 won in May to 975 won in June.

 The following prices are a comparison by item between the areas which had the highest and the lowest consumer prices: the price of rice in Goyang was 21.1% higher than that in Daejeon; the price of Chinese cabbage in Seoul was 51.5% higher than that in Chuncheon; the price of lettuce in Incheon was 107.7% higher than that in Jinju; the price of spinach in Jinju was 96.0% higher than that in Seoul; the price of turnips in Goyang was 124.5% higher than that in Wonju; the price of water melon in Changwon was 54.0% higher than that in Daejeon; the price of melons in Busan was 93.0% higher than that in Suwon; the price of Korean beef in Goyang was 39.1% higher than that in Ulsan; the price of pork in Goyang was 24.8% higher than that in Jeju; the price of chicken in Changwon was 71.1% higher than that in Suwon; the price of imported beef in Incheon was 126.0% higher than that in Jeju; the price of mackerel in Daegu was 142.5% higher than that in Gwangju; the price of tofu in Busan was 49.4% higher than that in Ulsan; the price of dried anchovies in Busan was 62.7% higher than that in Jeju; the price of laver in Jinju was 96.7% higher than that in Ulsan; the price of eggs in Cheongju was 56.0% higher than that in Jeju; the price of ramen in Jinju was 6.3% higher than that in Daegu; the price of ham in Daegu was 10.9% higher than that in Jeonju; the price of milk in Jeonju was 5.6% higher than that in Goyang; the price of yogurt in Ulsan was 30.4% higher than that in Daejeon; the price of fruit juice in Suwon was 21.3% higher than that in Daejeon; the price of bottled water in Seoul 39.9% was higher than that in Wonju; the price of soju in Jinju was 11.7% higher than that in Goyang; the price of beer in Seoul 8.9% was higher than that in Goyang; the price of powdered milk in Goyang was 35.1% higher than that in Wonju; the price of Choco-Pie in Ulsan was 17.1% higher than that in Jinju; the price of coffee in Jeonju was 7.8% higher than that in Daegu; the price of canned tuna in Jeju was 8.8% higher than that in Chuncheon; the price of sugar in Ulsan was 7.1% higher than that in Goyang; the price of flour in Suwon was 8.5% higher than that in Daegu; the price of sesame oil in Goyang was 28.1% higher than that in Jinju; the price of corn oil in Wonju was 10.7% higher than that in Chuncheon; the price of chili sauce in Gwangju was 12.2% higher than that in Daegu; the price of toothpaste in Cheongju was 69.1% higher than that in Goyang; the price of synthetic detergent in Daejeon was 47.4% higher than that in Chuncheon; the price of boxed tissue paper in Jinju was 37.2% higher than that in Daejeon; the price of diapers in Jinju was 13.8% higher than that in Chuncheon.
(See Consumer Information Corner for a detailed survey outcome by region and item)

▶ Contact: Choe Eun-mi, Secretary (02-774-4050) 

Consumers Korea (Citizens Alliance Researching Consumer Issues)

[Statement] KFDA Should Immediately Amend Irradiated Food Marking Standards

On June 15, the UK Food Standards Agency banned the import and sale of 20 different Nongshim ramen and snack items which violated the rules for managing and marking irradiated food items.
Consumers Korea supports this action by the UK Food Standards Agency, which strictly administers irradiated food items, giving top priority to consumers. We are disappointed to hear that the export and sale of products from Nongshim, a leading Korean food company, have been banned for violating food labeling regulations of the export target country.

Korean consumers were infuriated by two factors after hearing the UK government actions:
First, the KFDA does not require the marking of food made of irradiated materials, while the Codex Alimentarius Commission requires the marking on food composed of irradiated materials as well as on irradiated food items.
Second, Korean consumers were not informed that ramen, snacks or other processed food items consumed daily are irradiated, since the government rules do not require their marking as mandatory. This means that the consumers’ right to access information has been denied.

The KFDA should immediately amend the Food Labeling Standards to require the mandatory marking of all food items containing irradiated materials. It is most important that such food items are marked on the end-user packages selected by the consumers.

Food companies should voluntarily mark all food products containing irradiated materials. Food exporters have maintained double standards, neglecting the consumers’ right to access information, if they have failed to mark products sold in the local market while marking export products containing irradiated food. Furthermore, Nongshim should make its position clear to the general public regarding the current situation.
Consumers should select food items bearing in mind that ramen and snack items contain irradiated food materials.

▶ Contact: Mun Eun-suk, Secretary (02-739-5530)

Seoul YMCA Citizens’ Mediation Center

Street Campaign Held to Reduce Mobile Phone Value-added Service Rates

- The Ministry of Information and Communication and three major mobile phone service operators should immediately introduce free SMS and CID services to lessen consumers’ burden!

 Citizens have shown avid interest in the ‘Consumer Action to Make SMS and CID Free Services’ started last April. The consumers have too long borne the burden of the heavy service rates charged by the mobile phone service carriers, despite no additional facility investment being required for such services. Over 30 NGOs and online organizations have participated in this campaign, whose activities included street performances, online demonstrations, a one-person relay demonstration, and open debating sessions. In addition, members of the National Assembly’s Science, Technology, Information and Telecommunication Committee have shown their position, while academia has also performed research into appropriate charge rates.

 Meantime, we welcome the remarks made by Jin Dae-je, the Minister of Information and Communication, on June 13: “We will integrate the rate for popular value-added services with the basic rate.” We wish the ministry would reflect its new position on its policy as the remark is believed to reflect a change in the ministry’s stance, having looked on the public opinion for reduced rates with folded arms, saying, “We won’t intervene in the rate issue as they are value-added services.” Thus, Seoul YMCA held a street performance criticizing the ministry’s attitude of neglecting the consumers’ burden, with such excessive services rates being charged by the mobile phone service carriers.

We will terminate the one-person sit-in that has been held in front of the SKT home office for 30 days. We plan to achieve free services within the year by steadily staging this campaign together with other regional YMCAs, consumer organizations, and online user communities.

※ Free SMS, CID Action Site: http://tusa.or.kr

▶ Contact: Kim Hui-kyeong, Secretary (02-725-1400)