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

President Lee Jae Myung firmly rejected accusations that importing eggs from Brazil represented a wasteful expenditure of taxpayer money, dismissing the claims as politically motivated falsehoods. Opposition lawmakers had contended that the government had squandered 80 billion won ($59.51 million) on the imports, highlighting the significant increase in the per-egg cost from an initial purchase price of 178 won to 1,464 won after accounting for airfreight, tariffs, and other expenses.

Korea experienced a sharp rise in egg prices during the summer due to insufficient supply. In response, Lee announced a trial import of a small quantity of eggs from Brazil to ensure an additional source of supply, despite the high transportation costs. Speaking on X, Lee explained that such a move was a common government practice to manage consumer prices when supply shortages cause basic necessities to become more expensive.

Lee acknowledged that airfreight and other associated expenses did contribute to the final import cost, but stressed that the eggs were priced at a level that provided significant price relief to consumers compared to the higher domestic prices driven by the supply shortage. While the exact details of the imported quantity were not specified, the president's statement aimed to clarify the government's rationale behind the decision and emphasize the importance of affordable access to essential food items.