Fair Trade Commission expands staff, splitting offices in Sejong

The Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) is facing organizational fragmentation in Sejong City due to rapid personnel expansion. Approximately 100 employees from the Market Surveillance Bureau are scheduled to move to a separate office in the Bank Building in Eojin-dong next month.

This relocation increases the FTC's operational sites in Sejong to three locations. While the new office is near major transportation networks like the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system—offering convenience for staff traveling to Seoul—it presents logistical challenges for internal communication, as the walk from the main government complex takes roughly 30 minutes.

The move is driven by a significant increase in staff. Following a previous expansion, a second phase of recruitment in October is expected to add another 237 personnel. This will bring the FTC's total workforce from 647 to 1,052 within a single year. The growth focuses on strengthening investigation and economic analysis capabilities, including the creation of a 40-person Intensive Investigation Planning Team and an expanded Economic Analysis Bureau.