Under the current Fair Trade Act, the FTC is the only entity that can bring a fair trade case to court through the prosecution.

This rule is aimed at preventing a flood of lawsuits being taken against local firms by individuals and civic groups, which would adversely affect normal business activities.

Critics have demanded the government grant rights to lodge a suit against rule-breaking companies by private entities.

The FTC chairman, a former civic activist, earlier said that the abolition of exclusive rights is one of the most effective tools to address the issue of holding companies more accountable.

Also, the State Affairs Planning Advisory Committee, a presidential policy advisory panel set up to design the newly elected Moon Jae-in administration's five-year policy framework, said it will take away the exclusive authority of the FTC to file complaints. (Yonhap)