G/LIC/N/2/KOR/32  
 
27 October 2020  
(20-7461) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 5.1 TO 5.4 OF THE AGREEMENT1 
REPUBLIC OF KOREA 
The following notification dated 8 October 2020 , is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of the Republic of Korea . 
 
 Category  Notification details  
1 Notifying Member  Republic of Korea  
2 Title of new 
legislation/procedure  Act on Access to and Utilization of Genetic Resources and Benefit -
Sharing  
3 Date of Publication  17 January 2017 
4 Date of entry into force  17 August 2017 
5 Website link/Official 
publication of the new 
regulation/procedure  http://www.law.go.kr/LSW/eng/engLsSc.do?menuId=2&section=law
Nm&query= Act+on+Access+to+and+U tilization+of+Genetic+Resourc
es+and+Benefit -Sharing &x=0&y=0   
6 Have you attached a copy of 
the regulation (PDF) to the 
Secretariat   Yes. ( Please attach a copy of the regulation to the notification ) 
 
 No. 
7 Type of notification   (a) New licensing regulation/procedure2; (please answer question 
8 to 14)  
 
 (b) Changes to a regulation/procedure which has been p reviously 
notified in document: ______________ ; (please answer question 15 
and 16 ) 
8 List of products subject to 
licensing  1. Ministry of Science and ICT: Bio -resources in accordance with the 
Act on the Acquisition, Management, and Utilization of Biological 
Research Resources ; 
2. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs: Agricultural bio -
resources in accordance with the Act on the Conservation, 
Management, and Use of Agricultural Bio -Resources ; 
3. Ministry of Health and Welfare: Pathogenic o rganism resources in 
accordance with the Act on the Promotion of Collection, 
Management, and Utilization of Pathogen Resources ; 
4. Ministry of Environment: Biological resources in the field of 
wildlife in accordance with the Wildlife Protection and Management 
Act and biological resources in accordance with the Act on the 
Conservation and Use of Biological Diversity ; 
5. Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries: Marine and fisheries bio -
resources in accordance with the Act on Securing, Management, 
Use, etc. of  Marine and Fisheries Bio -Resources . 
 
1 It is understood that the notifying Member has also completed its notification obligations under 
Article  1.4(a) and Article 8.2(b) regarding the relevant law/regulation/procedure notified for by filling this form 
in a full and complete manner.  
2 "New licensing regulation/procedure" is understood to refer to any newly introduced law, regulation or 
procedure, and those which are in force but being no tified for the first time to the Committee.  G/LIC/N/2/KOR/32  
 
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   Category  Notification details  
  Imports may be carried out  under the following condition : Anyone 
who (foreigners, overseas Koreans, foreign institutions, international 
organizations etc) seek s access to domestic genetic resources, shall 
report such access to the head of the Competent National Authority  
9 Nature of licensing  Automatic:  
 
Non-Automatic:  
10 Administrative 
purpose/measure being 
implemented  (a)  Protect public morals;  
(b)  Protect human, animal or plant life and health; protect 
environment;  
(c)  Collect trade statistics or market surveillance;  
(d)  Protection of patents, trademarks and copyrights, and 
the prevention of deceptive practices;  
(e)  Pursue obligations under the UN Charter and other 
international treaties ( i.e. CITES, Basel Convention, 
Rotterdam Convention, UNSC Resolutions etc.)  
(f)  Quota (including TRQ) administration;  
(g)  Regulate imports of arms, ammunition or fissionable 
materials and safeguard national security;  
(h)  Other: ______________ (please specify)  
11 Administrative body(ies) for  
submission of applications  Ministry/authority and Department: Minist ry of Science and ICT  
Address: 194, Gareum -ro, Sejong -si, 30121, Republic of Korea  
Website: https://www.msit.go.kr/english/main/main.do   
Telephone: +82 -44-202-4562 
 
Ministry/authority and Department: Ministry of Agriculture, Food 
and Rural Aff airs 
Address: 94, Dasom 2 -ro, Sejong -si, 30110, Republic of Korea  
Website: https://www.mafra.go.kr/sites/mafra/index.do   
Telephone: +82 -44-201-2475 
 
Ministry/authority and Department: Ministry of  Health and Welfare  
Address: 13, Doum 4 -ro, Sejong -si, 30113, Republic of Korea  
Website:  http://www.mohw.go.kr/eng/index.jsp   
Telephone: +82 -44-202-2944 
 
Ministry/authority and Department: Ministry of Environment  
Address: 11, Doum 6 -Ro, Sejong -si, 30103, Republic of Korea  
Website: http://eng.me.go.kr/eng/web/main.do   
Telephone: +82 -44-201-7251 
 
Ministry/authority and Department: Ministry of Oceans and Fisherie  
Address: 94, Dasom 2ro, Sejong -si, 30110, Republic of Korea  
Website: http://www.mof.go.kr/eng/index.do   
Telephone: +82 -44-200-5671 
12 Contact point for 
information on eligibility  Ministry/authority and Department: Minist ry of Science and ICT  
Address: 194, Gareum -ro, Sejong -si, 30121, Republic of Korea  
Website: https://www.msit.go.kr/english/main/main.do   
Telephone: +82 -44-202-4562 
 
Ministry/authority and Department: Ministry of Agriculture, Food 
and Rural Affairs  
Address: 94, Dasom 2 -ro, Sejong -si, 30110,  Republic of Korea  
Website: https://www.mafra.go.kr/sites/mafra/index.do   
Telephone: +82 -44-201-2475 
 
Ministry/authority and Department: Ministry of Health and Welfare  
Address: 13, Doum 4 -ro, Sej ong-si, 30113, Republic of Korea  
Website:  http://www.mohw.go.kr/eng/index.jsp   
Telephone: +82 -44-202-2944 
 
Ministry/authority and Department: Ministry of Environment  
Address: 11, Doum  6-Ro, Sejong -si, 30103, Republic of Korea  
Website: http://eng.me.go.kr/eng/web/main.do   
Telephone: +82 -44-201-7251 G/LIC/N/2/KOR/32  
 
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   Category  Notification details  
Ministry/authority and Department: Ministry of Oceans and Fisherie  
Address: 94, Dasom 2ro, Sejong -si, 30110, Republic of Korea  
Website: http://www.mof.go.kr/eng/index.do   
Telephone: +82 -44-200-5671 
13 Expected duration of 
licensing procedure  There is no related regulation  
14 A summary of the 
notification in one of the 
WTO official languages   The purpose of this Act is to provide for necessary matters for 
implementing the Nagoya Protocol on Access to and the Fair and 
Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to  the 
Convention on Biological Diversity; and for those for promoting the 
fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from accessing and 
using genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with 
genetic resources thereby contributing to the c onservation and 
sustainable use of biological diversity, improving the lives of the 
people, and promoting international cooperation.  
Anyone  who (foreigners, overseas Koreans, foreign institutions, 
international organizations etc) seek s access to domestic g enetic 
resources,  they shall report such access to the head of the Competent 
National Authority  
15 In the case of 7(b), please 
indicate the type of new 
change(s)  (a)  Termination  
(b)  Suspension  
(c)  Modification of specific details in existing  
procedures:  
 Product coverage;  
 Administrative purpose;  
 Automatic or Non -automatic;  
 Duration of licensing;  
 Change the nature of quantity/value restriction;  
 Eligibility of applicants;  
 Contact information on eligibility;  
 Administrative body(ies) for submission of application;  
 Documentation requirements (including application form);  
 Period for Application;  
 Administrative body(ies) to issue licence;  
 Processing time for issuing licence;  
 Licence fee/administrative charge;  
 Deposit/advance payment and relevant conditions;  
 Appeal regulations/procedures;  
 Validity of licence;  
 Other conditions of licence (extension, transferability, 
penalty of non -use etc.);  
 Foreign exchange requirements;  
 Other:  __________ (please specify).  
 
16  Please elaborate the 
changes in detail (in one of 
the WTO official languages)   
__________