Watchdog to slap fines totaling 14.8 bln won on Korean barbecue chain operator

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SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's fair trade watchdog on Monday decided to slap a 14.8 billion-won (US$10.8 million) fine on the operator of a popular Korean barbecue restaurant chain for providing low-interest loans to 14 affiliated private moneylenders.

The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said Myeong Ryun Dang, which operates Myeong Ryun Jinsa Pork Ribs, provided excessive economic benefits to the affiliates by lending them a total of 298.3 billion won at unusually low interest rates.

The watchdog said Myeong Ryun Dang offered the loans at annual interest rates of 2.3 percent or 4.6 percent between December 2021 and April 2026, estimating the economic benefits received by the private moneylenders at 21.7 billion won.

The affiliates, in turn, lent the funds to franchisees at annual interest rates of 12 to 18 percent.

"The 14 private moneylenders, which would have struggled to enter the market due to difficulties in raising funds independently, were each able to obtain between 10 billion won and 15 billion won in low-interest loans, reducing their costs and risks," the FTC said.

"Myeong Ryun Dang withheld information about its ties to the moneylenders, detailed loan terms, links between franchise and loan contracts and repayment methods, all of which could have significantly influenced prospective franchisees' decisions," it added.

The FTC said it has decided to impose a 10.4 billion-won fine on Myeong Ryun Dang for unlawfully supporting its affiliates and a 4.4 billion-won fine for concealing its relationships with the lenders to potential franchisees.

The watchdog noted the 14 moneylenders were effectively owned by Myeong Ryun Dang's owner, meaning the economic benefits provided to them ultimately flowed to the owner's family.

The investigation showed the funds Myeong Ryun Dang provided to its affiliates included 79 billion won in low-interest loans from the state-run Korea Development Bank.

The FTC said it has decided to file a complaint against the company and its chairman.

This file photo, taken July 6, 2026, shows the headquarters of Myeong Ryun Dang in Seoul. (Yonhap)

colin@yna.co.kr (END)

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Watchdog to slap fines totaling 14.8 bln won on Korean barbecue chain operator

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首尔，9月28日（韩联社）——韩国公平贸易监管机构周一决定对一家颇受欢迎的韩国烤肉连锁餐厅的经营者处以148亿韩元（1080万美元）的罚款，原因是该经营者向14家关联的私人放贷机构提供低息贷款。

韩国公平交易委员会（FTC）表示，经营明莲真沙猪肋排的明莲堂公司以异常低的利率向其关联公司提供了总计 2983 亿韩元的贷款，从而获得了过多的经济利益。

监管机构表示，明莲堂在 2021 年 12 月至 2026 年 4 月期间以 2.3% 或 4.6% 的年利率提供贷款，估计私人放贷者获得的经济利益为 217 亿韩元。

这些关联公司又以 12% 至 18% 的年利率将这些资金借给加盟商。

“这14家私人放贷机构原本由于难以独立筹集资金而难以进入市场，但现在每家都获得了100亿韩元至150亿韩元的低息贷款，从而降低了成本和风险，”韩国公平交易委员会表示。

“明莲堂隐瞒了其与放贷人的关系、详细的贷款条款、特许经营与贷款合同之间的联系以及还款方式等信息，所有这些都可能对潜在加盟商的决定产生重大影响，”声明补充道。

韩国联邦交易委员会表示，已决定对明莲堂公司处以 104 亿韩元的罚款，原因是该公司非法支持其关联公司；并对其处以 44 亿韩元的罚款，原因是该公司向潜在加盟商隐瞒与贷款方的关系。

监管机构指出，这 14 家放贷机构实际上都由 Myeong Ryun Dang 的老板所有，这意味着提供给他们的经济利益最终都流向了老板的家人。

调查显示，明莲堂向其关联公司提供的资金包括来自韩国国营开发银行的 790 亿韩元低息贷款。

美国联邦贸易委员会表示，已决定对该公司及其董事长提起诉讼。

这张摄于2026年7月6日的资料照片显示的是位于首尔的明莲堂总部。（韩联社）

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监管机构将对韩国烧烤连锁运营商处以总计148亿韩元的罚款