South Korea's corporate watchdog said Monday that it will provide detailed price information by February for IKEA products whose local prices became controversial for being more expensive than in other countries. 
   
"We plan to commission a consumer group to review prices (of IKEA products) for comparison," Jang Duck-jin, the head of the Fair Trade Commission (FTC)'s consumer policy bureau, told reporters.
  

"The results of the price analysis will be made public no later than the end of February," he added.
   
The FTC is expected to analyze the prices of IKEA products in Korea and other countries, while also comparing them with those of similar items being sold through other retail channels including department stores and outlets.
  

IKEA, a Swedish furniture giant, is scheduled to open its first store in South Korea next month plus four more by 2020. Ahead of the first opening, the company earlier this month revealed the prices of nearly 8,600 products to be sold in South Korea. The prices were found to be as much as double the prices elsewhere.
   
Observers said the FTC's move is apparently aimed at pressuring IKEA to "voluntarily" adjust prices by giving more information to consumers and helping them make informed decisions in making purchases. (Yonhap)