This article was published on June 2, 2025, at 5:17 p.m. on the ChosunBiz RM Report site.
The prosecution has been raiding HANSSEM since last week on suspicion of colluding for 10 years in bidding for system furniture installed in apartments. System furniture is made by combining wooden shelves with aluminum poles and is mainly installed in apartment dress rooms and pantries. Bidding is conducted separately from general built-in furniture, such as cabinets and sinks.
According to legal sources on the 2nd, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Fair Trade Investigation Division (Director General Kim Yong-sik) sent investigators to conduct a search at HANSSEM’s headquarters on that day. The search for HANSSEM has reportedly been underway since last week. During last week’s search, it is said that other 19 furniture companies suspected of colluding with HANSSEM were also partially included.
The investigation into this case began in February when the Fair Trade Commission imposed a penalty surcharge of 18.3 billion won on 20 furniture companies, including HANSSEM, and referred four of them to the prosecution. The Fair Trade Commission reported four companies, including HANSSEM, Dongseongsa, SpaceMax, and Jamart, which were deemed deeply involved in the collusion.
According to the Fair Trade Commission, the sales representatives of these companies are accused of colluding while participating in 190 bids for system furniture commissioned by 16 construction companies from February 2012 to November 2022. The furniture companies are suspected of having agreed in advance on the winning bidders and bidding prices. The order of winning bidders was reportedly decided by methods such as drawing lots.
According to the Fair Trade Commission, out of about 190 bids participated in by the furniture companies, 167 were successful in collusion, with related sales amounting to 332.4 billion won.