South Korea: Only 2,000 won in the hands of 8,000 won mackerel fishermen

Seoul City is facing calls for improvement in the efficiency of its seafood distribution structure due to an ongoing legal dispute with Garak Market Fisheries Wholesale Market Corporation. The issue stems from the expansion of exempted items from auction, a move that wholesale market corporations argue disadvantages them, as they rely on commission income from auctions. Critics point out that this situation, known as 'double auction,' is inefficient and increases costs for shippers and consumers. The introduction of a market wholesaler system, which bypasses wholesale market corporations, has shown to streamline the distribution process, potentially increasing shipper profits and reducing consumer costs. However, the implementation of this system has been hindered by vested interests, with data showing significant fraud in auctions and a decline in transaction volumes and values at markets reliant on the auction system. Experts argue that concessions to these interests are necessary to transition to a more efficient distribution model.