WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/N/3/KOR/6 
27 September 2007 
 (07-4066) 
Committee on Import Licensing Original:   English 
  
 
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES
1 
 
Notification under Article 7.3 of the  
Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures  
 
KOREA 
  
 The following communication, dated 24 September 2007, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of Korea. 
_______________ 
 
 
Outline of Systems
 
 
1. Korea has continued to reduce trade-related re gulations, embracing the principle of free trade 
with respect to export and import activities. Restric tions 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 establish an import export business. It is only for statistical purposes 
that the Korea International Trad e Association (KITA), a private organization, assigns upon request a 
trade business number to anyone who wishes to conduct trade business.   The Foreign Trade Act 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 Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE). But at present, 
no item is subject to import restrictions according to the Export-Import Notice. 
  In addition to the Foreign Trade Act, 47 separate laws also stipulate requirements for approval or authorization of certain items that can be impor ted by obtaining certification, permission and type 
approval. Those requirements are maintained most ly for the protection of public morals, human 
health, hygiene and sanitation, animal and plant lif e, environmental conservation or essential security 
interests in compliance with domestic legislati on requirements or international commitments. 
  To enhance transparency and for the conveni ence of trading companies, MOCIE updates the 
Consolidated Public Notice semi-annually, a si ngle document containing all export and import 
certification requirements in the 47 separate laws. 
 
Purpose and Coverage of Licensing
 
 
2. No quantitative import restrictions have been  placed on the basis of the HSK ten-digit code, 
with the exception of rice. Import-related require ments provided by the 47 separate laws pertain to 
                                                      
1 See G/LIC/3, Annex, for the Questionnaire. G/LIC/N/3/KOR/6 
Page 2  
 
  petroleum, LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), agricultural fertilizers, crop seeds, animals and animal 
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), WTO Agreements and ot her 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 47 domestic laws. A list of these laws is 
attached as Annex I. The detailed approval conditi ons 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. Answers provided to questions:  
 
I-VIII. Quantitative restriction relates exclusively to rice, of which the import is administered 
through 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)  In the cases of import-restricted items u nder the Foreign Trade Act, the quotas are allocated to 
end-users.  
 
(b) No licensing (since 6 June 1993), registration (since 30 December 1996) or notification (since 
1 January 2000) is required to establish an import export business under non-restrictive 
systems. 
 
 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. KITA publishes a list of traders annually.    G/LIC/N/3/KOR/6 
 Page 3 
 
 
  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:    
 (a) Attachment:  one sample form
2 
 11. Only in the case of import-restricted items , the import declaration, import approval, 
commercial invoice, Bill of Lading and other necessary documents must be submitted upon actual 
importation. 
 
12. There is neither a licensing fee nor an administrative charge.  13. There is neither a deposit nor an advance pa yment requirement associated with the issue of 
licences. 
 
Conditions of Licensing
 
 
14. In principle, import approvals are valid for a period of one year.  However, the period can be 
extended or shortened, depending on specific ci rcumstances, if approved by the appropriate 
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.  
                                                     
 
2 Available for consultation in the Secretariat (Market Access Division) (Korean and English only) G/LIC/N/3/KOR/6 
Page 4  
 
  ANNEX I 
 
 The following tables briefly describe the items subject to import-related requirements and the 
administrative organizations under 47 domestic laws.  Each Ministry ta kes charge of the application 
of the laws whose procedures or requirements fall under its authority. 
 
1. Ministry of  Commerce , Industry and Energy
 
 
Law Applicable Product(s) 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 
Liquified 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 
Manufacture and Management of Elevators Act Elevators, escalators and their 
components specified by this 
act  Korean Agency for Technology 
and Standards 
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/6 
 Page 5 
 
 
  2. Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry  
  
Law Applicable Product(s) 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 
Pharmaceutical Act Veterinary medicine Ministry 
Korea Animal Health Product 
Association 
Ginseng Industry Law Ginseng National Agricultural 
Cooperation Federation 
 
   
3. National Forestry Administration
 
 
Law Applicable Product(s) Administrative Organization 
The Law concerning Protection 
of Wildlife and Game Wild animals Administrative local 
governments 
  G/LIC/N/3/KOR/6 
Page 6  
 
  4. Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
 
 
Law Applicable Product(s) Administrative Organization 
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  
 
 
 
  5. Ministry of Finance and Economy
 
 
Law Applicable Product(s) Administrative Organization 
Foreign Exchange Management 
Act Coinage, banknotes, securities Foreign exchange banks, the 
Bank of Korea 
Tobacco Business Act Tobacco seeds Ministry 
    6. Ministry of  Science and Technology
 
 
Law Applicable Product(s) Administrative Organization 
Atomic Energy Act Nuclear materials Ministry 
 Radioisotope, radiation 
generators Korea Radioisotope 
Association 
     G/LIC/N/3/KOR/6 
 Page 7 
 
 
  7. Ministry of Health and Welfare  
 
Law Applicable Product(s) 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 
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 G/LIC/N/3/KOR/6 
Page 8  
 
  Law Applicable Product(s) Administrative Organization 
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 
 
 
  8. Ministry of Labor
 
 
Law Applicable Product(s) Administrative Organization 
Industrial Safety and Health 
Act Harmful substances (e.g. 
yellow phosphorous matches, 
benzidine) Local labor 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 equipment (e.g. 
safety helmet)  
 
  
 
9. Ministry of Information and Communication
 
 
Law Applicable Product(s) Administrative Organization 
Radio Waves Act Apparatus of radio equipment Radio Research Laboratory 
 EMI or EMC equipment  
Telecommunications Basic Act Telecommunication equipment   G/LIC/N/3/KOR/6 
 Page 9 
 
 
  10. Ministry of Culture and Tourism  
 
Law Applicable Product(s)  Administrative Organization  
Publication and Printing Promotion Act Foreign publications Korea Publication Ethics 
Commission 
Protection of Cultural 
Properties Act Cultural properties Cultural Heritage 
Administration 
 
   
 
11. Ministry of National Defense
 
 
Law Applicable Product(s) Administrative Organization 
Defense Acquisition Program 
Act Military products Defense Acquisition Program 
Administration 
 
   12. National Police Agency
 
 
Law Applicable Product(s) Administrative Organization 
Firearms, Swords, Explosives 
etc. Control Act Firearms, swords and 
explosives Agency 
 
 
  13. National Tax Administration
 
 
Law Applicable Product(s) Administrative Organization 
Liquor Tax Act Liquor District tax offices 
 
 G/LIC/N/3/KOR/6 
Page 10  
 
  14. Ministry of Environment
 
 
Law Applicable Product(s) Administrative Organization 
Toxic Chemicals Control Ac t  Chemical substances  Korea Chemicals Association 
Local governments,  
Basin Environmental Offices or 
Regional Environmental Offices 
Animals and plants detrimental to the 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  trans-boundary movement of 
hazardous wastes and their disposal Waste material Basin En vironmental Offices or 
Regional Environmental Offices 
Noise and Vibration Regulation Act 
Atmospheric Environment Preservation Act Motor vehicles, etc. National Institute of 
Environmental Research 
 
 
 
15. Ministry of Construction and Transportation  
 
Law Applicable Product(s) Administrative Organization 
Motor Vehicles Control Act Motor vehicles Ministry 
Construction Equipment 
Management  Act Construction equipment Ministry 
 
 G/LIC/N/3/KOR/6 
Page 11 
  
  <sample forms>       수입승인(신청)서 Import  License (Application) 
 
 처  리  기  간  : 1일 
Handling  Time  : 1 Day 
① 수입자        무역업  신고번호  
   (Importer)     (Notification  No.) 
   상호,  주소,  성명 
  (Name  of Firm,  Address,  Name  of Rep’) 
  
(서명  또는  인)
(Signature)⑤ 송화인 (Consignor) 
 
   상호,  주소,  성명 
   (Name  of Firm,  Address,  Name  of Rep’) 
   
② 위탁자        사업자  등록번호  ⑥ 금액 (Total  Amount) 
⑦ 결제기간 (Period  of Payment)   (Requester)    (Business  No.) 
 
  상호,  주소,  성명 
   (Name  of Firm,  Address,  Name  of Rep’) 
  
(서명  또는  인)
(Signature)⑧ 가격조건 (Terms  of Price) 
③ 원산지 (Origin) ④  선적항 (Port  of Loading) 
⑨ HS부호 ⑩  품명  및 규격   ⑪ 단위  및 수량  ⑫ 단 가  ⑬ 금    액 
  (HS code)         (Description/Size)                  (Unit/Quantity)  (Unit  Price)     (Amount) 
   
 
⑭ 승인기관  기재란 (Remarks to be filled out by an Approval Agency) 
⑮ 유효기간 (Period  of Approval) 
   승인번호 (Approval  No.) 
   승인기관  관리번호 (No. of Approval  Agency) 
   위의  신청사항은  대외무역법  제14조제2항  및 동법시행령  제26조제1항의  규정에  의하여  승인합니다. 
   (The  undersigned  hereby  approves  the above  mentioned  goods  in accordance  with  Article  14(2)  of the Foreign  Trade  
Act and Article  26(1)  of the Enforcement  Decree  of the said  Act.) 
 
200   년    월     일  
승인권자                   (인)
 
※ 승인기관이  2이상인  경우  ⑭ -   의 기재사항은  이면에  기재하도록  합니다. 
※ 이 서식에  의한  승인과는  별도로  대금결제에  관한  사항에  대하여는  외국환관리볍령이  정하는  바에  따라야  합니다. 
 
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