WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/N/3/KOR/7 
28 November 2008 
 
 (08-5846) 
Committee on Import Licensing Original:   English 
  
 
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES 
 
Notification under Article 7.3 of the
 
Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures  
 
KOREA 
 
  The following communication, dated 24 November 2008, is being circulated at the request of 
the delegation of Korea. 
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Outline of system
 
 
1 Korea has continued to reduce trade-related re gulations, embracing the principle of free trade 
with respect to export and import activities.  In this c ontext, restrictions on trade, if any, are limited to 
the very minimum necessary.   No licensing (since 6 June 1993), registration (s ince 30 December 1996) or notification (since 
1 January 2000) is required to be  importers and exporters.  Only for statistical purposes, the Korea 
International Trade Association (KITA), a privat e organization, assigns upon request a trade business 
number to anyone who wishes to conduct trade business.   The Foreign Trade Act (FTA) is the basic law that governs international trade between Korea 
and other countries. Specific items for which exports and/or imports are restricted are listed in the 
Export-Import Notice published by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE). But at present, no 
item is subject to import restrictions according to the Export-Import Notice. 
  In addition to the FTA, 47 separate laws also stipulate approval or au thorization requirements 
for certain items, and those items can be imported by obtaining certification, permission and type 
approval.  Those requirements are maintained mos tly for the protection of morals, human health, 
hygiene and sanitation, animal and plant life, e nvironmental conservation or essential security 
interests in compliance with domestic legislati on requirements or international commitments. 
  To enhance transparency and for the conve nience of trading companies, MKE updates the 
Consolidated Public Notice when necessary, a single document containing all export and import 
certification requirements in the 47 separate laws. 
 
Purpose and coverage of licensing
 
 
2. As of January 2007, there is no quantitativ e import restriction on the basis of the HSK 
ten-digit code except on rice.  Im port-related requirements provided by  the 47 separate laws pertain to 
petroleum, LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), agricultural fertilizers, crop seeds, animals and animal G/LIC/N/3/KOR/7 
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  products, nuclear materials, narco tics, foods and food additives, fo reign publications, firearms and 
explosives  3. The system applies to goods origin ating in and coming from all countries.  
 
4. All import-related regulations except those on ri ce are not intended to restrict the quantity or 
value of imports.  Rather, they are maintained in order to protect national security, human, animal or 
plant life or health, and the environment, etc. in accordance with the provisions of Articles XX and 
XXI of GATT 1994, other WTO Agreements and other international rules or agreements. 
 
5. The import approval system is enforced under the Foreign Trade Act, the Enforcement 
Decree of the Foreign Trade Act, the Foreign Tr ade Management Regulation and the Export-Import 
Notice.  The import-related requirements are set forth in the 47 domestic laws. A list of these laws is 
attached in Annex I.  The detailed approval cond itions are prescribed in enforcement decrees or 
regulations for the above-men tioned 47 domestic laws. 
 
  While it is not possible for the executive branch to abolish or to convert the approval system 
without legislative approval, there is administrative flexibility to some extent since the authority to 
classify a specific item for import regulati on is entrusted to the executive branch. 
 
Procedures  
 
6. The answers provided to questions 6. I~V III relate exclusively to rice. There is no 
requirement for licences since the import of rice is under the system of state trading enterprise.  IX~X. Not applicable. 
 
XI. No. 
 
7. Not applicable.  There are no licensing proce dures for items not subject to import restrictions 
on quantity.  
8. An application for approval cannot be rej ected if it satisfies the established criteria. 
 
Eligibility of importers to apply for licence
 
 
9.(a, b) No licensing (since 6 June 1993), registrati on (since 30 December 1996) or notification (since 
1 January 2000) is required to be importers and exporters. 
  For statistical purposes only, the Korea Intern ational Trade Association (KITA), a private 
organization, assigns upon request a trade business num ber to anyone who wishes to carry out trade 
business.  The KITA publishes a list of traders annually.  Documentations and other requirements for application for licence
 
 
10. An offer sheet or a copy of the contract and other necessary documents must be submitted 
together with the application.1 
 
 
                                                      
1 A sample of the import licence application form is available for consultation in the Secretariat 
(Market Access Division) (E nglish and Korean only).  G/LIC/N/3/KOR/7 
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  11. Only in the case of import-restricted items, upon actual importation, the import declaration, 
import approval, commercial invoice, Bill of La ding and other necessary documents must be 
submitted.  12. There is no licensing fee or administrative charge. 
 
13. There is no deposit or advance payment requi rement associated with the issue of licences. 
 
Conditions of licensing
 
 14. In principle, the period of validity for impor t approval is one year.  However, the period can 
be extended or shortened, depe nding on specific circumstances, when the approval is issued by 
relevant administrative agencies.  15. There is no penalty for the non-utilisation of a licence or a portion of a licence. 
 
16. Licences are not transferable between importers.  17. No other conditions are attach ed to the issue of a licence. 
 
Other procedural requirements
 
 
18. There are no other administrative procedures, apart from import licensing and similar administrative procedures, required prior to importation.  19. Foreign exchange is provided automatically for goods to be imported under the standard 
settlement method. 
  
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  G/LIC/N/3/KOR/7 
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  ANNEX I 
 
 The following tables briefly describe the items subject to import-related requirements and the 
administrative organizations under the 47 domestic laws .  Each Ministry takes charge of application 
of the laws whose procedures or requirements fall under its authority. 
1. Ministry of  Knowledge Economy
 
 
Law Product covered Related administrative 
organization 
Petroleum and Petroleum Alternative Fuel Business Act Crude oil, petroleum(including 
natural gas, propane and 
butane), Petroleum Alternative 
Fuel Korea Petroleum Association, 
Ministry 
High Pressure Gas Safety Control Act High pressure gas, container 
and facilities Korea Gas Safety Corporation 
Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety 
and Business Management Act Gas appliances Korea Gas Safety Corporation 
Act on the Control of the 
Production etc. of Specified 
Substances for the Protection of 
the Ozone Layer Controlled substances under the 
Montreal Protocol Ministry 
Electric Appliances Safety 
Control Act Designated electric appliances 
which can cause danger or 
injury Korean Agency for Technology 
and Standards 
Act on the Prohibition of Chemical and Biological 
Weapons and the Control of the 
Production, Export, Import, etc. of Specific Chemicals, 
Biological agents, etc. Specific chemicals, Biological 
agents (Pathogens on Human, Animal and Plants) and Toxins Ministry 
Bioindustry Association of 
Korea 
Quality Management and 
Safety Control of Industrial 
Products Act Designated consumer products 
which can cause danger or 
injury Korean Agency for Technology 
and Standards 
Measures Act Legal measuring instruments Korea Machinery Meter and 
Petrochemical Testing and 
Research Institute 
 
  G/LIC/N/3/KOR/7 
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  2. Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries  
 
Law Product covered Related administrative 
organization 
Food Grain Management Act Rice Ministry 
Fertilizer Management Act Agricultural fertilizer Ministry 
Agrochemicals Management Law Agrochemicals Ministry 
Livestock Epidemics Prevention 
and Control Act Animals and animal products National Veterinary Research 
Quarantine Service 
Plant Protection Act Plants and plant products National Plant Quarantine 
Service 
Seed Industry Law Crop seeds 
Vegetable seeds for sale 
Fruit trees for sale Rural Development 
Administration 
Korea Seed Association National Seed Management 
Office 
Livestock Act Purebred breeding stocks Korea Animal Improvement 
Association Korea Poultry Association 
Processing of Livestock 
Products Act Livestock products National Veterinary Research & 
Quarantine Service 
Agricultural Quality Control Act Silkwo rm egg Local Sericulture Institution 
Fisheries Act  Marine animals and plants Ministry 
Quality Control of Fishery 
Products Act Marine animals and plants 
 Ministry 
National Fisheries Products Quality Inspection Service 
National Fisheries Research 
and Development Institute  
 
 3. National Forestry Administration
 
 
Law Product covered Related administrative 
organization 
The Law concerning Protection of Wildlife and Game Wildlife animals Administrative local 
governments 
 
 
  
 G/LIC/N/3/KOR/7 
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  4  Ministry of Public Administration and Security
 
 
Law Product covered Related administrative 
organization 
The Local Tax Law Tobacco Administrative local 
governments 
  5. Ministry of  Education, Science and Technology
 
 
Law Product covered Related administrative 
organization 
Atomic Energy Act Nuclear materials Ministry 
 Radioisotope, radiation 
generators Korea Radioisotope 
Association 
  6. Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family affairs
 
 
Law Product covered Related administrative 
organization 
Pharmaceutical Affairs Act Finished  pharmaceuticals Korea Food and Drug 
Administration 
Korea Pharmaceutical Traders’ 
Association 
 Materials for medicines or for 
herbal drugs Korea Food and Drug 
Administration 
Korea Pharmaceutical Traders’ 
Association 
Medical Device Act Medical devices Korea Food and Drug 
Administration 
Korea Medical Device Industry 
Association 
Narcotics for medicine Korea Food and Drug 
Administration 
Korea Pharmaceutical Traders’ 
Association 
Cannabis  Act on the control of narcotics, etc 
Finished pharmaceuticals & 
Materials for medicine 
 Korea Food and Drug 
Administration 
Korea Pharmaceutical Traders’ 
Association  G/LIC/N/3/KOR/7 
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  Law Product covered Related administrative 
organization 
Cosmetic Act Cosmetics Korea Food and Drug 
Administration 
Korea Cosmetic Association 
Food Sanitation Act Food, food additives, apparatus, 
container and package National Quarantine Station or 
Regional Food and Drug Administration 
Health Functional Food Act Health Functi onal food National Quarantine Station or 
Regional Food and Drug 
Administration 
Quarantine Act Designated products National Quarantine Station or 
Regional Food and Drug 
Administration 
  National Veterinary Research 
and Quarantine Service  
Human Tissue Safety & Control 
Act Transplant (material) of Human 
tissue 
(bone, ligament, tendon etc) Human Tissue Bank of Korea 
Korea Food & Dug 
Administration 
The Export-Import Bank of 
Korea 
Korea Customs Service 
 
 
7. Ministry of Labour  
 
Law Product covered Related administrative 
organization 
Industrial Safety and Health 
Act Harmful substances (e.g. 
yellow phosphorous matches, 
benzidine) Local labour administration 
 New chemical substances (e.g. 
chemical elements, radioactive 
substances) Ministry 
 Safeguarding measures (e.g. 
safeguarding measures against 
press) Korea Occupational Safety & 
Health Agency 
 Harmful or hazardous 
equipments (e.g. cranes, lifts)  
 Protective equipments (e.g. 
safety helmet)  
 
 G/LIC/N/3/KOR/7 
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  8. Korea  Communication Commission
 
 
Law Product covered Related administrative 
organization 
Radio Waves Act Apparatus of radio equipment Radio Research Laboratory 
 EMI or EMC equipment  
Telecommunications Basic Act Telecommunication equipment  
 
 9. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
 
 
Law Product covered Related administrative 
organization 
Publication and Printing Promotion Act Foreign publications Korea Publication Ethics 
Commission 
Protection of Cultural Properties Act Cultural properties Cultural Heritage 
Administration 
 
 
10. Ministry of National Defence  
 
Law Product covered Related administrative 
organization 
Defense Acquisition Program 
Act Military products Defense Acquisition Program 
Administration 
 
 
11. National Police Agency  
 
Law Product covered Related administrative 
organization 
Firearms, Swords, Explosives 
etc. Control Act Firearms, swords and 
explosives Agency 
  G/LIC/N/3/KOR/7 
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  12. National Tax Administration  
 
Law Product covered Related administrative 
organization 
Liquor Tax Act Liquor District tax offices 
  13. Ministry of Environment
 
 
Law Product covered Related administrative 
organization 
Toxic Chemicals Control Act  Chemical substances  Korea Chemicals Association 
Local governments 
Basin Environmental Offices or 
Regional Environmental Offices 
Animals and plants detrimental to ecosystem  Basin Environmental Offices or 
Regional Environmental Offices 
Endangered wild animals and plants Basin Environmental Offices or 
Regional Environmental Offices 
Wild animals Local governments Wildlife Protection Act 
International trade in endangered 
Species of wild fauna and flora Basin Environmental Offices or 
Regional Environmental Offices 
Drinking Water Management 
Act Bottled water, water treatment 
chemicals and its container Basin Environmental Offices or 
Regional Environmental Offices 
Act on the Control of  Transboundary Movements of 
Hazardous Wastes and Their 
Disposal Wastes Basin Enviro nmental Offices or 
Regional Environmental Offices 
Act on the Promotion of Saving 
and Recycling of Resources - Pesticides and toxics using 
can, glass and plastic container 
- Antifreeze - Gum 
- Disposable Diaper 
- Tobacco - Plastic products Korea Environment & Resources 
Corporation(ENVICO) 
Noise and Vibration Regulation 
Act 
Atmospheric Environment Preservation Act Motor vehicles, etc. National Institute of 
Environmental Research 
 G/LIC/N/3/KOR/7 
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14. Ministry of Construction and Transportation
 
 
Law Product covered Related administrative 
organization 
Motor Vehicles Control Act Motor vehicles Ministry 
Construction Equipment Management Act Construction equipments Ministry 
 
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