Lee rejects claims of wasteful spending on Brazil egg imports, defends move to curb prices

President Lee Jae Myung rejected accusations that the South Korean government wasted taxpayer funds on high-cost Brazilian egg imports, describing the claims as politically motivated falsehoods. Opposition lawmakers alleged the government squandered 80 billion won (US$59.51 million) due to the per-egg price surging to 1,464 won from its initial purchase price of 178 won, once airfreight, tariffs and other expenses were factored in.

The shortfall in egg supplies during the summer prompted a trial import of a small quantity of eggs from Brazil, despite the elevated transportation costs, Lee explained on X. The president defended the move, stating that importing more expensive goods from abroad and supplying them domestically at lower prices is a routine government tactic to curb consumer prices when supplies dwindle and basic necessities become pricier.

While admitting that airfreight and associated expenses raised the final import cost, Lee emphasized that the eggs represented merely 0.8 percent of South Korea's total egg imports, amounting to approximately 1.6 billion won in total, not the 80 billion won as claimed by critics. Lee branded the criticism as "the spread of false information for political purposes" and urged the makers of such claims to correct them.