Six petrochemical companies indicted for price-fixing

Prosecutors on Thursday indicted six petrochemical companies in South Korea over alleged price-fixing of products worth more than 16 trillion won. The companies, including LG Chem, Aekyung Chemical, OCI, Lotte Fine Chemical, PKC and Unid, were accused of colluding for years on eight products such as PVC, plasticizers, caustic soda and hydrochloric acid. Prosecutors also indicted 43 current and former executives and employees, including OCI Vice Chairman and CEO Kim Yu-shin. The alleged collusion continued despite 146.5 billion won in government support for petrochemical production.

The suspected price-fixing involved eight petrochemical products valued at 16.39 trillion won between November 2021 and April this year.

Prosecutors indicted 43 current and former executives and employees from the six companies.

A former head of PKC's sales division and a former head of LG Chem's business division were referred to trial while in detention.

PVC is a synthetic plastic widely used in construction materials, pipes and wire insulation, and plasticizers are additives that make PVC softer and more flexible.

Published Oct 1, 2026 3:20 pm KST

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office in this May 1, 2022 file photo / Yonhap

Prosecutors on Thursday indicted six petrochemical companies and over 40 current and former company officials on charges of fixing prices on products worth more than 16 trillion won ($11.75 billion).

The six -- LG Chem, Aekyung Chemical, OCI, Lotte Fine Chemical, PKC and Unid -- allegedly colluded for several years to raise prices for eight petrochemical products, including PVC, plasticizers, caustic soda and hydrochloric acid, according to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office.

Prosecutors also indicted 43 current and former executives and employees of the six companies, including OCI Vice Chairman and CEO Kim Yu-shin and former PKC CEO Jang Young-soo, on price-fixing charges.

In particular, a former head of PKC's sales division, surnamed Bae, and a former head of LG Chem's business division, surnamed Hwang, were referred to trial while in detention.

The suspects are accused of engaging in price-fixing for the eight petrochemical products, valued at 16.39 trillion won, between November 2021 and April this year.

PVC, primarily made from naphtha, is a synthetic plastic widely used in construction materials, pipes and wire insulation, while plasticizers are chemical additives that make PVC softer and more flexible.

Prosecutors alleged that the suspects continued their price-fixing collusion despite the government's provision of 146.5 billion won to support petrochemical production amid a sharp rise in international oil prices caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

韩国检方周四对六家石化公司提起诉讼，指控其涉嫌操纵价值超过16万亿韩元的产品价格。这六家公司包括LG化学、爱庆化学、OCI、乐天精细化学、PKC和Unid，被控多年来串谋操纵PVC、增塑剂、烧碱和盐酸等八种产品的价格。检方还起诉了43名现任和前任高管及员工，其中包括OCI副董事长兼首席执行官金裕信。尽管政府已向石化生产提供了1465亿韩元的补贴，但涉嫌串谋操纵价格的行为仍在继续。

涉嫌操纵价格事件涉及八种石化产品，价值 16.39 万亿韩元，时间跨度为 2021 年 11 月至今年 4 月。

检察官对这六家公司的 43 名现任和前任高管及员工提起诉讼。

PKC销售部门前负责人和LG化学业务部门前负责人被拘留期间移送审判。

PVC是一种广泛用于建筑材料、管道和电线绝缘的合成塑料，增塑剂是使PVC更柔软、更有弹性的添加剂。

发布于2026年10月1日下午3:20（韩国标准时间）

这张摄于2022年5月1日的照片是首尔中央地方检察厅提供的资料照片/韩联社

周四，检方起诉了六家石化公司和 40 多名现任和前任公司官员，指控他们操纵价值超过 16 万亿韩元（117.5 亿美元）的产品价格。

据首尔中央地方检察厅称，LG化学、爱京化学、OCI、乐天精细化学、PKC和Unid这六家公司涉嫌串谋数年，抬高包括PVC、增塑剂、烧碱和盐酸在内的八种石化产品的价格。

检察官还以操纵价格的罪名起诉了这六家公司的 43 名现任和前任高管及员工，其中包括 OCI 副董事长兼首席执行官金裕信和前 PKC 首席执行官张英洙。

尤其值得一提的是，PKC销售部门前负责人裴姓人士和LG化学业务部门前负责人黄姓人士在拘留期间被移送审判。

嫌疑人被指控在 2021 年 11 月至今年 4 月期间，操纵价值 16.39 万亿韩元的八种石化产品的价格。

聚氯乙烯（PVC）主要由石脑油制成，是一种广泛用于建筑材料、管道和电线绝缘的合成塑料，而增塑剂是使聚氯乙烯更柔软、更有弹性的化学添加剂。

检方指控，尽管政府拨款 1465 亿韩元支持石化产品生产，以应对中东冲突导致的国际油价飙升，但嫌疑人仍继续串谋操纵价格。