International pulp prices are up over 20% year-on-year. With the won at ₩1,500/USD, container freight up 30%, and a ₩338.3B antitrust fine on top, Korea’s paper industry is facing a four-front squeeze.
Korea’s Fair Trade Commission has imposed a record ₩338.3 billion fine on six paper manufacturers for price-fixing that drove printing paper prices up 71% over nearly four years. Here is what happened and what it means for the industry.
Back-to-back plant fires and workplace fatalities in early 2026 have pushed Korea’s corrugated base paper inventory down 40% year-on-year. We examine the causes and the ripple effects on packaging costs and supply chains.