Representatives from food companies facing antitrust penalties for colluding to fix the prices of flour and sugar appeared before the National Assembly Audit in Seoul. The executives apologized for the price-fixing scheme, which led to fines from the Korea Fair Trade Commission. They pledged to strengthen internal controls and compliance management across their organizations. The hearing focused on preventing future instances of unfair competition and protecting consumers from inflated prices. Lawmakers questioned the company heads about the extent of the collusion and the measures being taken to ensure ethical business practices. This public apology and commitment to reform come after intense scrutiny of the food industry in South Korea. Further investigations and stricter regulations are anticipated as a result of this incident.