Emart's supermarket unit fined over unfair business practices

The company reportedly returned unsold seasonal products to suppliers.

South Korea's antitrust regulator has fined the super supermarket unit of discount store chain Emart of $515,000 (KRW582m) over unfair business practices, Yonhap reported.

Emart Everyday unfairly returned unsold seasonal products, such as sunscreen and ice boxes, to suppliers after it bought them between January 2015 and May 2018, according to the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC).

The company shifted inventory costs of unsold goods to suppliers, violating the fair trade act on large retail businesses, the regulator said. The act does not allow larger retail operators to return supplied goods without proper reasons.

Emart Everyday was also found to have engaged in other unfair business activities related to contracts with suppliers and hiring of temporary employees.