Consumer prices in Korea have repeatedly breached the 2 percent inflation target, underscoring ongoing instability and possibly giving President Lee Jae Myung further justification for government-led price control measures. Economists have noted that the president specifically pointed to food prices as a key factor behind persistent inflation, suggesting it could open the door for government intervention to stabilize prices. He referred to the president’s remarks during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, in which Lee asked Ju Biung-ghi, chairperson of the Fair Trade Commission, whether price control measures could be imposed on companies. The president said that the prices of food and daily necessities in Korea are more than 1.5 times higher than the OECD average. He argued that major manufacturers and producers have established monopolistic structures, leading to inflated food prices and excessive profits.