President urges firm response to false claims about Brazilian egg imports

Published Oct 13, 2026 8:57 pm KST

Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Vice Minister Kim Jong-gu, right, visits an egg distribution center in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, to inspect egg supply and distribution conditions, Sept. 15. Courtesy of Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

President Lee Jae Myung called Tuesday for a firm government response to the spread of false information about eggs imported from Brazil.

During a closed-door session of a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee asked Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Song Mi-ryung how she was responding to the spread of misinformation about Brazilian eggs, according to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.

Lee emphasized that "we must make it clear that stirring up public sentiment with false information is not a demonstration of influence or competence," Kang added.

Earlier, some media outlets reported that the government had imported eggs from Brazil at a cost of 39,000 won per tray and sold them domestically for around 4,000 won. The reports sparked criticism over the excessive use of public funds in the import process. Some critics went so far as to allege a so-called "left-wing connection," citing political ties with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs explained that the imports were a precautionary measure aimed at addressing potential disruptions to domestic egg supplies caused by outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Eggs imported from Brazil accounted for just 0.8 percent of total egg imports as of the end of September, the ministry added.

发布于2026年10月13日晚上8:57（韩国标准时间）

9月15日，韩国农林畜产食品部副部长金钟九（右）视察京畿道骊州市一家鸡蛋配送中心，检查鸡蛋供应和配送情况。图片由韩国农林畜产食品部提供。

李在明总统周二呼吁政府对有关从巴西进口鸡蛋的虚假信息的传播做出坚决回应。

据总统发言人康裕贞透露，在青瓦台举行的内阁闭门会议上，李明博询问农林食品部长官宋美玲，她如何应对有关巴西鸡蛋的虚假信息的传播。

李强调，“我们必须明确指出，用虚假信息煽动公众情绪并不能证明自身的影响力或能力，”康补充道。

此前，一些媒体报道称，韩国政府以每托3.9万韩元的价格从巴西进口鸡蛋，然后在国内以每托约4000韩元的价格出售。该报道引发了对政府过度使用公共资金进行进口的批评。一些批评人士甚至指责此举与所谓的“左翼势力”有关，并援引了政府与巴西总统路易斯·伊纳西奥·卢拉·达席尔瓦的政治关系。

农业、食品和农村事务部解释说，此次进口是一项预防措施，旨在应对高致病性禽流感疫情可能对国内鸡蛋供应造成的干扰。该部补充说，截至9月底，从巴西进口的鸡蛋仅占鸡蛋进口总量的0.8%。