Home
| Databases
| WorldLII
| Search
| Feedback
Laws of the Republic of Korea |
GENERAL PROVISIONSCHAPTER I
Amended by Act No. 10231, April 5, 2010
Article 1 (Purpose)
The purpose of this Act is to contribute to the growth of the national economy by promoting foreign trade, establishing a fair trade system, maintaining international balance of payments and expanding commerce.
Article 2 (Definitions)
The terms as used in this Act shall have the meanings indicated below:
1. The term "trade" means the exportation and importation of those falling under any of the following items (hereinafter referred to as "goods, etc."): (a) Goods;
(b) Services prescribed by Presidential Decree;
(c) Intangible goods in an electronic form prescribed by Presidential Decree;
2. The term "goods" means movables, which exclude those of the following items: (a) Means of payment as defined in the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act; (b) Securities as defined in the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act; (c) Documents that embody any of the claims defined in the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act;
3. The term "trader" means any person who delegates or conducts acts for the exportation and importation of goods, in whole or in part, such as a person who engages in exportation or importation, a person to whom a foreign importer or exporter delegates FOREIGN TRADE ACT
Laws on Green Growth, and Economic Investment in Korea 465 05_LawsConcerningEconomicInvestment
activities relating to exportation and importation, or a person who delegates activities relating to exportation and importation.
Article 3 (Principle of Free and Fair Trade)
(1) Foreign trade in the Republic of Korea shall be promoted on the basis of the principle of free and fair trade in compliance with the treaties on trade entered into and promulgated pursuant to the Constitution of the Republic of Korea and the generally accepted international laws and regulations.
(2) When there are any provisions that provide a restriction in any treaty on trade entered into and promulgated pursuant to this Act, any other act, or the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, or in any of the generally accepted principles of international law, the Government shall apply such restriction to the minimum extent necessary for achieving the intended purposes of such restriction. Article 4 (Measures for Promotion of Trade)
(1) The Minister of Knowledge Economy may take measures for continuously increasing
the exportation and importation of goods, under
conditions prescribed by Presidential
Decree, if considered necessary for the promotion of trade.
(2) The Minister of Knowledge Economy may give necessary support to a person who
falls under any of the following subparagraphs,
under conditions prescribed by
Presidential Decree, if considered necessary for the promotion of trade under paragraph
(1):
1. A person who engages in a business of advisory services, guidance services, overseas
advertising, exhibitions, training, arranging
business talks, etc. for promotion of trade;
2. A person who has established and managed a facility related to trade, including a
trade exhibition center and a trade training
center;
3. A person who has established and managed a platform for the scientific processing
of the business affairs relating to trade.
Article 5 (Restrictions on Trade and other Special Actions)
When there occurs any event or cause set forth in any of the following
subparagraphs,
the Minister of Knowledge Economy may provide a restriction or ban on the exportation
and importation of goods,
under conditions prescribed by Presidential Decree:
466 Ministry of Government Legislation
PROMOTION OF COMMERCECHAPTER II
1. In case of war, commotion, or natural disaster in the Republic of Korea or any trading
partner country (hereinafter referred to
as "trading partner country");
2. When any trading partner country fails to respect any right or interest of the Republic
of Korea as provided for in a treaty or
any of the generally accepted principles of
international law;
3. When any trading partner country imposes an unfair or discriminatory burden or
restriction upon Korean trade;
4. When it is necessary to perform duties to maintain international peace and security
under treaties on trade entered into and promulgated
pursuant to the Constitution of
the Republic of Korea and generally accepted principles of international law;
5. When it is necessary for protecting and conserving life, health, and safety of people,
and life and health of animals and plants
as well as the environment and domestic
resources.
Article 6 (Consultation as to Acts and Subordinate Statutes on Trade)
(1) All matters concerning trade shall be governed by this
Act.
(2) The head of an administrative agency, who intends to enact or amend an act and
statute, directive, public notice, etc.
that provide a restriction on the exportation or
importation of goods, (hereinafter referred to as "guidelines for exportation and
importation"), shall consult with the Minister of Knowledge Economy in advance.
In such cases, the Minister of Knowledge Economy
may request the head of the
relevant administrative agency to adjust the guidelines for exportation and importation.
Article 7 (Establishment of Implementation Plan for Promotion of Commerce)
(1) Each year the Minister of Knowledge Economy shall
establish an implementation plan
for the promotion of commerce for the following year, to promote trade and commerce.
(2) The implementation plan for the promotion of commerce under paragraph (1) shall
include the following matters: 1. Basic direction of the implementation policy on the promotion of commerce;
Laws on Green Growth, and Economic Investment in Korea
467
05_LawsConcerningEconomicInvestment
2. Analysis and forecast of the circumstances of international commerce;
3. Schemes for promotion of negotiations related to trade and commerce, and for
support of overseas expansion of corporations;
4. Schemes for supporting the development of overseas markets, such as rendering
advisory and guidance services, overseas advertising,
exhibitions, arranging business
talks, cultivating professional talents for the promotion of commerce;
5. Schemes for collecting, analyzing, and making the best use of information about
commerce;
6. Measures to promote cooperation at home and abroad for smooth supply and demand
of raw materials;
7. Other matters prescribed by Presidential Decree.
(3) The Minister of Knowledge Economy may inquire about the commerce-related
systems
and practices of trading partner countries and problems encountered by Korean
companies while conducting business abroad,
in order to collect basic data for
establishing the implementation plan for the promotion of commerce pursuant to
paragraph (1).
(6) The Mayor/Do Governor shall, upon receiving the notice of the implementation plan
for promotion of commerce pursuant to paragraph
(5), establish and implement the
regional implementation plan for promotion of commerce appropriate for the region
within his/her
jurisdiction.
(7) The Mayor/Do Governor shall notify the Minister of Knowledge Economy of his/her
regional implementation plan for promotion of
commerce, once such plan is established
468 Ministry of Government Legislation
pursuant to paragraph (6). The same shall also apply to any revisions to such plan.
Article 8 (Support to Cooperative Activities by Private Sector)
(1) The Minister of Knowledge Economy may provide necessary support
to an institution
or organization related to trade or commerce, if such institution or organization
promotes cooperative activities
with the central government, a local government, an
institution, or an organization of a trading partner country with regard to
commerce,
industry, technology, energy, etc., under conditions prescribed by Presidential Decree.
(2) The Minister of Knowledge Economy may collect information from institutions and
organizations related to trade and commerce
systematically and analyze such
information to furnish local governments and companies with such information as
required, in order
to help companies develop overseas markets.
(4) The Minister of Knowledge Economy shall establish a center for support of overseas
expansion under the Korea Trade-Investment
Promotion Agency Act, so as to carry
out tasks comprehensively, including counseling, guidance, publicity, and research
related
to overseas expansion of corporations and other support for overseas expansion
of corporations.
Article 9 (Submission of Data for Implementation of Treaty concerning Trade)
(1) The Minister of Knowledge Economy may request the
relevant public agencies,
corporations, organizations, etc. to submit necessary data, under conditions prescribed
by Presidential
Decree, when it is needed to honor a treaty concerning trade, which
the Republic of Korea has concluded.
(2) No person who has acquired data necessary for implementation of a treaty concerning
Laws on Green Growth, and Economic Investment
in Korea 469
EXPORTATION AND IMPORTATIONCHAPTER III
05_LawsConcerningEconomicInvestment
trade under paragraph (1) in performing his/her duty, shall provide or divulge the
corporate information, which is deemed to need
confidentiality, such as the business
secret of a corporation, from among the data he/she has acquired, to other persons,
or use
them for any other purpose, without consent of the provider of such information.
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 9630, Apr.
22, 2009]
SECTION 1 General Provision Applicable to Exportation and Importation
Article 10 (Principles of Exportation and Importation)
(1) Subject to the purposes of this Act, the exportation and importation of goods, the
receipts and payments of the prices therefor
shall be liberalized.
(2) Every trader shall conduct transactions in good faith at his/her own risk to secure
credibility in overseas
markets and maintain the free trade system.
Article 11 (Restrictions on Exportation and Importation)
(1) The Minister of Knowledge
Economy may provide a restriction or ban on exportation
or importation, provided it is necessary for fulfilling the obligations
under treaties
signed and promulgated pursuant to the Constitution of the Republic of Korea and
generally accepted principles of
international laws, or for protecting biological
resources.
(3) Each person who intends to revise any of the important matters specified by
Presidential Decree among the matters approved pursuant
to paragraph (2) shall obtain
approval for such revision from the Minister of Knowledge Economy, while a revision
of any other
minor matter requires the submission of a report to the Minister of
470 Ministry of Government Legislation
Knowledge Economy.
(5) The Minister of Knowledge Economy shall issue public notice, whenever imposing
any restriction, ban, or limitation, prescribing
any matter concerning approval or report,
or establishing any procedure therefor pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs (1)
through
(4).
Article 12 (Consolidated Public Notice)
(1) The head of the relevant administrative agency shall, when enacting or amending the
guidelines for exportation and importation,
submit the guidelines to the Minister of
Knowledge Economy so that public notice on such enactment or amendment can be
issued pursuant
to paragraph (2) before such guidelines come into effect.
(2) The Minister of Knowledge Economy shall combine the guidelines for exportation
and importation submitted pursuant to paragraph
(1) to issue a consolidated public
notice thereof.
Article 14 (Confirmation of goods, Eligible for Exemption from Export or Import
Approval)
The Minister of Knowledge Economy shall confirm whether certain goods exported or
Laws on Green Growth, and Economic Investment
in Korea 471
05_LawsConcerningEconomicInvestment
imported without approval (refers to goods, falling under the main sentence of Article
11 (2)) constitute any of the goods, set
forth in the proviso to Article 11 (2).
Article 15 (Establishment of Platform for Scientific Processing of Trade Affairs)
(1) The Minister of Knowledge Economy shall make
efforts to establish a platform for
dealing with trade affairs scientifically, including the system of international trade
statistics
and the exchange system of electronic documents, in order to facilitate
systematic and efficient exportation and importation of
goods.
Article 16 (Import Approval for Raw Materials and Equipment for Earning
Foreign Currencies.)
(1) The Minister of Knowledge Economy may not apply the provisions of Article 11
(4) to goods, imported for earning foreign currencies
including raw materials,
machinery, and equipment (hereinafter referred to as "materials and equipment").
Provided, that the same
shall not apply where it is necessary to promote the use of
domestic raw materials and equipment.
(3) Every person who imports or entrusts the importation of any material or equipment,
under paragraph (1), shall earn foreign currencies
equivalent to value of the material
or equipment imported: Provided, That the same shall not apply where the Minister
of Knowledge
Economy has approved pursuant to Article 17.
(4) The scope of foreign currencies earned pursuant to paragraph (3), the period of time
for fulfilling such obligation, the method
of verification, and other necessary matters
shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
Article 17 (Use of Materials or Equipment Imported for Earning Foreign
Currencies for Any Purpose other than Originally Intended
Purpose)
(1) A person, who wishes to use any material or equipment imported pursuant to Article
16 (1), or any goods, manufactured
with such material or equipment, for any purpose
other than the originally intended purpose due to any inevitable reason or cause,
shall
obtain approval of the Minister of Knowledge Economy for such use, under conditions
prescribed by Presidential Decree: Provided,
That the same shall not apply to the
materials and equipment specified by Presidential Decree and the goods, etc.
manufactured
with such materials and equipment.
(2) When a person intends to transfer any material or equipment imported pursuant to
Article 16 (1), or any goods, etc. manufactured
with such material or equipment, to
another person who intends to use or export such material, equipment, goods, etc.
for the originally
intended purpose, both the intended transferor and the intended
transferee shall obtain approval of the Minister of Knowledge Economy
for such
transfer: Provided, That the same shall not apply to materials and equipment specified
by Presidential Decree and the
goods, etc. manufactured with any of such materials
and equipment.
(1) Upon receiving an application for certification that any material or equipment is
purchased for earning foreign currencies from
a person who intends to purchase any
Laws on Green Growth, and Economic Investment in Korea 473
05_LawsConcerningEconomicInvestment
material or equipment for earning foreign currencies in order to benefit from the
application of zero-rate tax under Article 11
(1) 4 of the Value-Added Tax Act, the
Minister of Knowledge Economy may issue a document certifying the intended purpose
of such
purchase (hereinafter referred to as "purchase certificate").
(2) As regards the person to whom a purchase certificate is issued, the Minister of
Knowledge Economy shall perform follow-up management
to track whether the
material or equipment has been purchased for the purpose of earning foreign currencies.
(3) Necessary matters concerning the procedures for application and issuance of the
purchase certificates under paragraphs (1) and
(2), and the follow-up management
thereof shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
SECTION 3 Exportation and Importation of
Strategic Items
Article 19 (Public Notice of Strategic Items, Export Permit)
(1) The Minister of Knowledge Economy shall designate
and publicly notify the goods
(including technology determined by Presidential Decree; hereafter the same shall
apply in this Article)
for which placing a restriction, such as an export permit, is
required for maintaining international peace and security as well
as national security,
in consultation with the head of the relevant administrative agency, in accordance
with the principles of
the multilateral international export control system prescribed
by Presidential Decree.
(2) Any person, who intends to export any of the goods designated and publicly notified
pursuant to paragraph (1) (hereinafter referred
to as "strategic items"), shall obtain
a permit (hereinafter referred to as "export permit") from the Minister of Knowledge
Economy
or the head of the relevant administrative agency under conditions prescribed
by Presidential Decree.
by Presidential Decree, if the person becomes aware that the importer or the end user
of the goods has intent to appropriate the
goods for manufacturing, developing, using,
or storing weapons of mass destruction, or suspects that there is probably such intent
on grounds that the case of exportation falls under any of the following subparagraphs:
1. The importer evades furnishing necessary information concerning the end use of
the goods;
2. The goods to be exported have nothing to do with the field of business of the
end user;
3. There is a substantial disparity in technical level between the goods to be exported
and those of the importing country;
4. The end user has no career background of engaging in the field of business to
which the goods are expected to be applied;
5. The end user has no expertise regarding the goods, nevertheless, insists on the
exportation of the goods;
6. The end user declines any service for installing, maintaining, or training for the
goods;
7. The final consignee of the goods is a transporter;
8. The terms and conditions on pricing or payment for the goods deviate from ordinary
practices;
9. The delivery term for the goods is deviant from ordinary terms;
10. The transportation route for the goods deviates from ordinary routes;
11. It is not clear whether the goods will be used within the importing country or
will be re-exported abroad;
12. A demand for keeping confidential the information about the goods the final destination
exceeds ordinary standards;
13. Any other case which the Minister of Knowledge Economy or the head of the
relevant administrative agency determines and publicly
notifies that require an
export permit for a prescribed period of time due to any change in international
situation, the momentary
occurrence of a cause or an event that causes harm to
national security.
(4) The Minister of Knowledge Economy or the head of the relevant administrative agency
may, upon receiving an application for an
export permit or situational permit, grant
such export permit or situational permit in accordance with the guidelines prescribed
Laws on Green Growth, and Economic Investment in Korea 475
05_LawsConcerningEconomicInvestment
by Presidential Decree for maintaining international peace and security, national
security.
1. When it has been discovered that permission has been granted by fraud or other
wrongful means;
2. When any change occurs in the international situation, such as security situation
between nations, including a war and terrorism,
or movement and proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction.
Article 20 (Determination of Strategic Items)
(1) Deleted.
(2) Each trader of goods may file an application for determination as to whether any
goods constitute strategic items, with the
Minister of Knowledge Economy or the head
of the relevant administrative agency, under conditions prescribed by Presidential
Decree.
In such cases, the Minister of Knowledge Economy or the head of the relevant
administrative agency may delegate or entrust such
determination to the president of
the Korea Strategic Trade Institute under Article 29 or the relevant specialized
institution
determined by Presidential Decree.
(3) Each trader shall keep the following documents for five years:
1. Documents concerning the determination on the cases for which an application
for determination under paragraph (2) has been filed;
2. Documents concerning the export permit, situational permit or brokerage permit
granted to exporters who have exported any strategic
item or any goods subject
to situational permit or brokers who mediated a transaction of any strategic items;
3. Other documents specified by Presidential Decree.
476 Ministry of Government Legislation
Article 21 Deleted.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Minister of Knowledge Economy or the head of
the appropriate administrative agency may directly
halt transportation of a strategic
item until it has been verified that the item may legally be exported, if there is an
urgent
need to halt such transportation in order to prevent illegal exportation of
strategic items.
(3) Any person prescribed by Presidential Decree who intends to transport strategic items
by way of a domestic port or airport,
or transship such items within the territory
of the Republic of Korea shall obtain permission therefor from the Minister of
Knowledge
Economy or the head of the appropriate administrative agency, under
conditions prescribed by Presidential Decree.
items, etc.
(6) The period of time for and the means of an order or action to halt such transportation
pursuant to paragraphs (1), (2) and (4)
shall be restricted to the minimum extent necessary
for preventing illegal exportation of strategic items.
(1) Any national of the Republic of Korea who resides within this country (including
legal entities established under domestic laws)
shall, if he/she wishes to act as a broker
for transfer or sale of a strategic item from a foreign country to another foreign country,
obtain permission therefor from the Minister of Knowledge Economy or the head of
the relevant administrative agency, under conditions
prescribed by Presidential Decree:
Provided, That the same shall not apply to cases determined by Presidential Decree,
including
the transfer or sale of a strategic item, if it is one for which an export
permit has been obtained from the exporting country in
accordance with the principles
of the multilateral international export control system, as set forth in Article 19 (1).
(1) The Minister of Knowledge Economy may designate traders as self-compliance traders,
when these traders have the abilities prescribed
by Presidential Decree, including an
ability to identify strategic items and an ability to analyze the identification of importers
and end users, in order to improve the corporate self-controlling ability for management
of strategic items.
(3) Self-compliance traders shall submit a report on the performance of exportation of
strategic items, under their self-controlling
management pursuant to paragraph (2) to
the Minister of Knowledge Economy, under conditions prescribed by Presidential
Decree.
(4) The Minister of Knowledge Economy may revoke the designation of a self-compliance
trader, if a trader falls under any of the
following subparagraphs: 1. If it has failed to maintain the abilities prescribed by Presidential Decree pursuant
to paragraph (1);
2. If it has exported a strategic item intentionally or by gross negligence without an
export permit under Article 19 (2);
3. If it has exported any goods intentionally or by gross negligence without a
situational permit under Article 19 (3);
4. If it intentionally or by gross negligence failed to perform its duty to keep documents
under Article 20 (3);
5. If it intentionally or by gross negligence acted as a broker for the transactions
of any strategic item without a brokerage permit
under Article 24; and
6. If it has failed to perform its duty to report under paragraph (3).
Article 26 (Public Notice of Exportation and Importation of
Strategic Items)
The Minister of Knowledge Economy in consultation with the heads of the relevant
administrative agencies shall
publicly announce the guidelines related to the provisions
of Articles 19 through 25.
Article 27 (Duty Not to Disclose Confidential Information)
Public officials involved in the affairs pertaining to the control of
exportation and
importation of strategic items under this Act, executives and employees of the Korea
Strategic Trade Institute
under Article 29, and people involved in the affairs of
determination under Article 29 (5) 1 shall not disclose a company's trade
secrets known
to them in the course of performing the affairs pertaining to the control of exportation
and importation of strategic
items without consent of the company.
Laws on Green Growth, and Economic Investment in Korea 479
05_LawsConcerningEconomicInvestment
Article 28 (Establishment and Operation of Information Systems for Management
of Exportation and Importation of Strategic Items)
(1) The Minister of Knowledge Economy may jointly build and operate, with the heads
of the relevant administrative agencies and
the Korea Strategic Trade Institute under
Article 29, an information system for management of exportation and importation of
strategic
items in order to perform the following affairs:
1. Affairs pertaining to the export permit, the situational permit, the determination
under Article 20 (2), the issuance of the certificates
of purpose of importation under
Article 22;
2. Transactions pertaining to collection, analysis, and management of information
necessary for the control of exportation and importation
of strategic items.
(2) Necessary matters concerning the establishment and operation of the information system
for management of
exportation and importation of strategic items under paragraph
(1) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
Article 29 (Establishment of Korea Strategic Trade Institute)
(1) The Korea Strategic Trade Institute shall be established in order
to efficiently support
transactions pertaining to exportation and importation of strategic items as well as
to transactions pertaining
to the management thereof.
(2) The Korea Strategic Trade Institute shall be a legal entity.
(3) The Korea Strategic Trade Institute
shall have executives and employees under
conditions prescribed by its Articles of incorporation.
(4) The Korea Strategic Trade
Institute shall be duly formed upon the completion of the
registration of its incorporation at the registry office having jurisdiction
over its
principal place of business.
(5) The Korea Strategic Trade Institute shall perform the following affairs in compliance
with the Government's policy on management
of strategic items:
1. Transactions pertaining to determination under the latter part of Article 20 (2);
2. Transctions pertaining to operation of the information system for management of
exportation and importation of strategic items
under Article 28 (1);
3. Transactions pertaining to education and training of exporters and importers of
strategic items;
480 Ministry of Government Legislation
4. Other transactions prescribed by Presidential Decree.
(6) The president of the Korea Strategic Trade Institute may collect certain
fees from
a user of the Institute in connection with the transactions set forth in subparagraphs
of paragraph (5), subject to approval
of the Minister of Knowledge Economy.
(7) As to the Korea Strategic Trade Institute, the provisions of the Civil Act governing
the incorporated foundations shall apply
mutatis mutandis, except as provided for
otherwise in this Act.
(8) The Government may contribute or subsidize the expenses required for the
establishment and management of the Korea Strategic
Trade Institute to the extent
of its budget.
Article 30 (Council for Control of Exportation and Importation of Strategic Items)
(1) The Minister of Knowledge Economy and the
head of the relevant administrative
agency may jointly organize the Council for the Control of Exportation and Importation
of Strategic
Items (hereafter referred to as the "Council") for consultations between
ministries and agencies in relation to the control of exportation
and importation of
strategic items.
(4) Necessary matters concerning the organization and management of the Council shall
be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
Article 31 (Restrictions on Exportation and Importation of Strategic Items)
(1) The Minister of Knowledge Economy or the head of
the relevant administrative agency
may provide a restriction on exportation or importation of strategic items, in part or
in whole,
against a person who falls under any of the following subparagraphs for
a certain period of time, which shall not more than three
years: 1. A person who has exported any strategic item without an export permit under Article
19 (2);
Laws on Green Growth, and Economic Investment in Korea 481
05_LawsConcerningEconomicInvestment
2. A person who has exported any goods subject to a situational permit under Article
19 (3) without such situational permit;
3. A person who has violated any of the principles of the multilateral international
export control system under Article 19 (1) governing
the exportation or importation
of strategic items, and who is prescribed by Presidential Decree.
(2) The head of the relevant administrative
agency shall immediately notify the Minister
of Knowledge Economy, if he/she discovers a person who falls under any of the
circumstances
mentioned in subparagraph of paragraph (1).
(3) The Minister of Knowledge Economy or the head of the relevant administrative agency
may publicly notify the list of people against
whom a restriction of exportation and
importation of strategic items has been placed pursuant to paragraph (1) and the people
against
whom any foreign government has placed a restriction on exportation and
importation of strategic items pursuant to its laws and
regulations, and the details of
such restriction.
SECTION 4 Exportation of Industrial Plants 1. Exportation of an industrial plant of some certain or larger scale prescribed by
the Minister of Knowledge Economy among the machinery,
equipment, and devices
to be installed for management of the business of agriculture, forestry, fishery,
mining, manufacturing,
electricity, gas, water supply, transportation, warehousing,
broadcasting, and telecommunications service and the facilities prescribed
by
Presidential Decree; and
2. Exportation of a comprehensive package of an industrial plant, technical services,
and construction work (hereinafter referred
to as "exportation on a turn-key basis").
(2) The Minister of Knowledge Economy shall consider the opinions of the heads of the
482 Ministry of Government Legislation
INDICATION OF ORIGINCHAPTER III-II
appropriate administrative agencies concerning the feasibility of the exportation of the
industrial plant, if necessary for granting
approval or revised approval pursuant to
paragraph (1). In such cases, the heads of the appropriate administrative agencies shall,
upon receiving a request to present their opinions, present their opinions to the Minister
of Knowledge Economy without delay,
unless any justifiable grounds exist otherwise.
(3) The Minister of Knowledge Economy shall, when granting approval or revised
approval for exportation on a turn-key basis, obtain
consent of the Minister of Land,
Transport and Maritime Affairs in advance.
(5) The Minister of Knowledge Economy shall, when granting approval or revised
approval for exportation of an industrial plant pursuant
to paragraph (1), notify the
heads of the appropriate administrative agencies thereof without delay.
(6) To promote exportation of industrial plants, the Minister of Knowledge Economy may
pursue institutional improvement, conduct
market surveys, promote information
exchange, provide support for winning contracts, ensure fairness in the opportunities
to win
contracts, train specialized human resources, provide financial assistance,
support promising companies, and support collaborative
projects. In such cases, the
Minister of Knowledge Economy may designate an institution or organization involved
in the exportation
of industrial plants to engage in such activities.
[Title amended, Apr. 5, 2010]
Article 33 (Indication of Origin of Exported or Imported Goods)
(1) Any person who intends to export or import any of the goods,
which the Minister
of Knowledge Economy requires by a public notice to indicate their origin (hereinafter
referred to as "goods
requiring indication of origin") in order to establish the fair
Laws on Green Growth, and Economic Investment in Korea 483
05_LawsConcerningEconomicInvestment
trade system and protect producers and consumers, shall indicate the origin of such
goods.
(2) Any person who has imported goods requiring indication of origin processed by simple
works as prescribed by Presidential Decree
and thereby mutilates or alters the
indication of origin of the goods (excluding cases where paragraph (4) applies to traders
or
distributors of goods) shall indicate the original origin to the goods processed by
simple works. In such cases, the same shall
not apply where any other Act and
subordinate statute provides for any other standard for imported goods processed by
simple works.
(3) The methods of indication and verification of origin under paragraphs (1) and (2),
and other matters necessary for such indication
shall be prescribed by Presidential
Decree.
(4) No trader or distributor of goods shall commit any act falling under any of the
following subparagraphs: Provided, That subparagraph
3 shall apply only to traders:
1. Falsely indicating an origin or attaching any misleading indication of origin;
2. Mutilating or altering an indication of origin; and
3. Failing to indicate the origin of goods requiring indication of origin.
(5) The Minister of Knowledge Economy may inspect the
imported goods and related
documents as specified by Presidential Decree if he/she finds it necessary to ascertain
whether there
is a violation of any provisions of paragraphs (1) through (4).
(6) The Minister of Knowledge Economy may, if he/she discovers a violation in the means
of indicating the origin under paragraph
(3) or a violation of paragraph (2) or (4),
issue an order to take corrective measures as prescribed by Presidential Decree, including
measures to restore the original state, or impose a penalty not exceeding 300 million
won on such offender.
484 Ministry of Government Legislation
Article 34 (Assessment of Origin)
(1) The Minister of Knowledge Economy may assess the origin of exported or imported
goods, if considered necessary.
(3) Any trader or distributor of goods may request the Minister of Knowledge Economy
to assess the origin of exported or imported
goods.
(4) The Minister of Knowledge Economy shall, upon receiving a request under paragraph
(3), assess the origin of the goods, and notify
the requesting person of the results
thereof.
(6) The Minister of Knowledge Economy shall, upon receiving an objection under
paragraph (5), issue a notice of his/her ruling on
the objection raised within 150 days
after the objection is filed with him/her.
Article 35 (Standards for Assessment of Origin of Goods, Domestically Produced
Using Imported Materials)
(1) The Minister of Knowledge Economy may, if considered necessary for establishing
the fair trade system and protecting producers
and consumers, establish standards for
the assessment of origin of goods, etc. produced using imported materials and
distributed
and sold domestically (hereafter referred to as "domestically produced
goods, etc." in this Article), after consultation with the
heads of the appropriate central
administrative agencies: Provided, That the same shall not apply where any other Act
or subordinate
statute provides for any other standard for domestically produced goods,
etc.
(2) The Minister of Knowledge Economy shall publicly notify the standards for the
Laws on Green Growth, and Economic Investment
in Korea 485
05_LawsConcerningEconomicInvestment
assessment of origin of domestically produced goods under paragraph (1), once such
standards are established.
(2) The guidelines and procedure for the issuance of certificates of origin under paragraph
(1), the effective period, fees, and
other necessary matters for the issuance shall be
prescribed by Presidential Decree.
Article 38 (Prohibition of Misrepresenting Foreign Goods as Domestic Goods)
No person shall falsely indicate the country of origin
of certain goods as the Republic
of Korea if they are actually produced in a foreign country (including goods produced
in a foreign
country and then processed by simple works domestically as enumerated by
Presidential Decree; the same shall apply also in subparagraph
4 of Article 53-2) or to
export them or sell them in a foreign country by fabricating or altering a certificate of
origin, having
a certificate of origin issued with false details, or falsely indicating the
origin of goods.
486 Ministry of Government Legislation
LIMITATIONS ON QUANTITY OF IMPORTSCHAPTER IV
Article 39 (Measures to Restrict Quantity of Imports)
(1) When the Korea Trade Commission under Article 27 of the Act on the Investigation
of Unfair International Trade Practices and Remedy against Injury to Industry
(hereinafter referred to as the "Korea Trade Commission")
confirms as a result of
its investigation that the domestic industry that produces a certain kind of goods or
directly competing
goods (hereafter referred to as "domestic industry") suffers, or is
likely to suffer, severe damage and losses (hereafter referred
to as "severe damage
and losses") due to an increase in importation of specific goods of the same kind,
shall recommend to the
Minister of Knowledge Economy to take remedial measures
for such severe damage and losses. The Minister of Knowledge Economy may
take
measures to impose limitations on the quantity of imports (hereinafter referred to as
"limitations on the quantity of imports")
to the extent necessary for preventing or
curing such severe damage and losses inflicted on the domestic industry of such goods
and facilitating coordination, if it is concluded as necessary for protecting domestic
industry.
(3) The Government may negotiate with an interested country regarding adequate
compensation for negative impacts on trade by the
limitations on the quantity of
imports before it implements the limitations on the quantity of imports.
(4) Limitations on the
quantity of imports shall apply only to the goods imported after
the implementation of such limitations.
(5) The period of time for the application of the limitations on the quantity of imports
shall not exceed four years.
(6) The Minister of Knowledge Economy shall issue a public notice of the goods subject
to the limitations on the quantity of imports,
and the period of time for the application
of the limitations.
(7) The Minister of Knowledge Economy may, if considered necessary for making a
decision as to whether to take the measures to impose
limitations on the quantity
of imports, request the heads of the relevant administrative agencies, and interested
parties to furnish
him/her with related data and render cooperation as required.
(8) As regards to goods previously subjected to limitations on the quantity of imports,
or the goods subject to the emergency tariffs
under Article 65 of the Customs Act
(hereinafter referred to as "emergency tariff") or the provisional emergency tariffs
under
Article 66 of the Customs Act (hereinafter referred to as "provisional emergency
tariff"), the Minister of Knowledge Economy shall
not enforce any further limitation
on the quantity of imports before the expiration of the time period equivalent to the
time period
set for such previous limitations or such imposition of the emergency
tariff or the provisional emergency tariff (or two years if
the time period set for the
application of such limitations or imposition is less than two years) beginning on the
expiry date
of the time period set for the application of such limitations or the
imposition: Provided, That the limitations on the quantity
of imports may be
implemented for a time period not exceeding 180 days, only if all the requirements
set forth in the following
subparagraphs are satisfied:
1. One year has lapsed since the limitations on the quantity of imports were implemented
or the emergency tariff or provisional emergency
tariff was first imposed on the specific
goods;
2. Such limitations on the quantity of imports have been implemented twice or less
or such emergency tariff has been imposed twice
or less during the preceding five
years, counting retroactively from the date when the intended limitations on the
quantity of
imports are about to be implemented again.
Article 40 (Extension of Limitations on Quantity of Imports)
(1) The Minister of Knowledge
Economy may, if there is a recommendation of the Korea
Trade Commission and it is considered necessary, revise the terms and conditions
of the limitations on the quantity of imports, or extend the time period for the
application of the limitations. In such cases,
the revision to terms and conditions of
the limitations and the terms and conditions of the limitations revised during the
extended
time period shall be more alleviated than those of the initial limitations.
488 Ministry of Government Legislation
(2) In extending the time period for the application of limitations on the quantity of imports
pursuant to paragraph (1), the aggregate
of the time period for the application of the
limitations on the quantity of imports, the imposition of emergency tariffs or
provisional
emergency tariffs shall not exceed eight years.
Article 41 (Enforcement of Special Limitations on Quantity of Imports against
Goods
from Specific Countries)
(1) When the Korea Trade Commission confirms as a result of its investigations of
domestic industry that the importation of certain
goods that originate from a country
specified by Presidential Decree within the limit allowed by a treaty signed and
promulgated
pursuant to the Constitution of the Republic of Korea or any of the
generally accepted principles of international laws has triggered
any of the following
causes or events and thus recommends to take remedial measures against such cause
or event, the Minister of
Knowledge Economy may take measures to impose special
limitations on the quantity of imports (hereafter referred to as "special
limitations on
the quantity of imports") to the extent necessary for remedying or preventing damage
and losses: 1. When an increase in importation of specific goods has disrupted, or is likely to
disrupt the domestic market for the same kind
of goods or directly competing goods;
2. When an action taken by a member state of the World Trade Organization to remedy
or prevent the disruption of its domestic market
against an increase in importation
of specific goods has caused a serious disruption of trade and consequently the
goods have been
imported, or are likely to be imported, to the Republic of Korea;
3. When an increase in importation of specific goods, which are governed by the
Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, has disrupted,
or is likely to disrupt the
domestic market, and such would impair development in the trade of the goods.
(2) The Government may
initiate negotiations in advance with the interested country to
seek a solution before enforcing the special limitations on the
quantity of imports.
(3) When the Korea Trade Commission recommends provisional measures on the goods
into which it has commenced
an investigation as set forth in paragraph (1) 1, the
Minister of Knowledge Economy may enforce provisional special limitations
on the
quantity of imports (hereafter referred to as "provisional special limitations on the
quantity of imports") for relieving
damage and losses, if it is found that irrecoverable
damage and losses have been caused, or are likely to be caused, unless counter
measures are taken to prevent such damage and losses that might be incurred during
Laws on Green Growth, and Economic Investment
in Korea 489
MAINTENANCE OF GOOD ORDER IN EXPORTATION AND IMPORTATIONCHAPTER V
05_LawsConcerningEconomicInvestment
the period for investigation. In such cases, the time period for the application of the
provisional special limitations on the quantity
of imports shall not exceed 200 days.
(4) The Minister of Knowledge Economy shall lift the provisional special limitations on
the quantity of imports upon receiving a
notice from the Korea Trade Commission
that its judgment as a result of its investigations under paragraph (1) 1 is that, the
domestic
market has not been disrupted, or is not likely to be disrupted.
(5) The Minister of Knowledge Economy shall lift the special limitations on the quantity
of imports within 30 days from the cessation
of the measures pertaining to such
limitations upon the termination of measures taken by any other member state of the
World Trade
Organization, which has triggered the special limitations on the quantity
of imports enforced pursuant to paragraph (1) 2.
(6) In implementing the special limitations or the provisional special limitations on the
quantity of imports, the Minister of Knowledge
Economy shall issue a public notice
of the goods subject to the limitations, the quantity thereof, and the applicable time
period.
(7) As to the implementation of special limitations on the quantity of imports, the
provisions of Articles 39 (2), (4), and (7),
and 40 (1) shall apply mutatis mutandis.
(8) As to the implementation of provisional special limitations on the quantity of imports,
the provisions of Article 39 (2), (4), and (7) shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Article 42 Deleted.
Article 44 (Expeditious Settlement of Trade Disputes between Traders)
(1) No trader shall delay the settlement of a dispute without
justifiable grounds, when
a dispute arises between domestic traders and a trader in a trading partner country
490 Ministry of Government
Legislation
in connection with exportation or importation of goods.
(2) When a dispute set forth in paragraph (1) arises, the Minister of Knowledge
Economy
may request traders to present their statements on the settlement of the dispute or
submit documents pertaining to the
dispute.
(3) The Minister of Knowledge Economy may, upon receiving documents or considering
opinions pursuant to paragraph (2), investigate
the facts relevant to the dispute, if
considered necessary.
Article 45 (Conciliation of Disputes Arising from Pre-Shipment Inspection)
(1) An institution that carries out a pre-shipment inspection
of goods to be exported by
a company within the territory of the Republic of Korea under an agreement entered
into with the government
of an importing country or with an authority delegated by
the government of an importing country (hereinafter referred to as "pre-shipment
inspection institution") shall abide by the World Trade Organization's Pre-shipment
Inspection Agreement. In such cases, no pre-shipment
inspection institution shall carry
out the pre-shipment inspection in a manner to place a trade barrier that impedes
exportation
by companies.
(2) When a dispute arises between an exporter and a pre-shipment inspection institution
in connection with pre-shipment inspections,
the Minister of Knowledge Economy
may initiate conciliation to settle such dispute.
(3) An independent arbitrative institution may be established for arbitration as required
for the settlement of disputes under paragraph
(2) under conditions prescribed by
Presidential Decree.
Article 46 (Order of Coordination)
(1) The Minister of Knowledge Economy may order traders to coordinate in adjusting
the price, quantity, quality, and other terms
and conditions, the business territory of
Laws on Green Growth, and Economic Investment in Korea 491
05_LawsConcerningEconomicInvestment
exported goods, if any of the following causes or events occurs:
1. When it is necessary for the fulfillment of the obligations under treaties signed
and promulgated pursuant to the Constitution
of the Republic of Korea and generally
accepted principles of international laws;
2. When the transaction at issue violates any relevant law of the Republic of Korea
or the trading partner country;
3. When it is likely to undermine fair competition in exportation of goods, or when
it is necessary for preventing an act of undermining
the credibility in the
international market, as set forth in any of the following items:
(a) When a trader excludes other traders
unfairly in connection with exportation
of goods;
(b) When a trader unfairly induces or coerces a trading partner of another trader
to discontinue transactions with the other trader
in connection with the
exportation of goods;
(c) When a trader unfairly interferes with overseas business activities of another
trader in connection with exportation of goods.
(2) The Minister of Knowledge Economy shall consider the following matters in issuing
an order of coordination pursuant to paragraph
(1):
1. To contribute to the stabilization of the basis for exportation, or the development
of new products or new overseas markets;
2. To cause no infringement of or discrimination against other traders' rights and
interests;
3. To ensure not to exceed the extent necessary for the purpose of maintaining good
order in the exportation and importation of goods.
(3) Necessary matters concerning the procedures. for issuing the orders of coordination
under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed
by Presidential Decree.
(4) The Minister of Knowledge Economy may not grant approval under Article 11 (2),
or require the head
of an agency concerned to cease the proceedings for approval,
if considered necessary for issuing an order of coordination pursuant
to paragraph
(1).
492 Ministry of Government Legislation
SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONSCHAPTER VI
Article 47 (Hearing)
The Minister of Knowledge Economy or the head of the relevant administrative agency
shall hold a hearing, whenever he/she intends
to make a disposition set forth in any of
the following subparagraphs:
1. Revocation of an export permit or situational permit under Article 19 (6);
2. Issuance of an order of coordination under Article 46 (1).
Article 48 (Report, Inspection)
(1) The Minister of Knowledge Economy or the head of the relevant administrative agency
may order a person who holds an export permit
or situational permit for the goods
subject to a restriction or ban on exportation pursuant to subparagraph 4 of Article
5, strategic
items, or goods pursuant to Article 19 (3) or a person who exports, or
tried to export, such goods, without an export permit or
situational permit, to submit
a report or data on the following matters:
1. The importing country;
2. The name, address, business area, main clients, and purpose of use of the importer,
end user, or the authority of the delegated
person by the importer or end user;
3. Related data, including tax payment certificates issued by person in authority of
the importing country and publications to verify
the identity of the importer, end
user, or the authority of the delegated person by the importer or end user;
4. Other matters prescribed and publicly notified by the Minister of Knowledge
Economy, including the means of transportation, the
country to which the goods
are to be transshipped, and the means of payment.
(2) The Minister of Knowledge Economy or the head
of the relevant administrative agency
may assign public officials under his/her control to inspect accounting books,
documents,
or any other stuffs at the office, place of business, factory, or warehouse
of the person specified in paragraph (1).
(3) Any public official who carries out an inspection under paragraph (2) shall present
identification showing his/her authority
to the people concerned.
Laws on Green Growth, and Economic Investment in Korea 493
05_LawsConcerningEconomicInvestment
Article 49 (Order to Take Training Course)
The Minister of Knowledge Economy or the head of the relevant administrative agency
may issue an order to a person who falls under
any of the following subparagraphs, under
conditions prescribed by Presidential Decree to take a training course:
1. Any person who has exported goods without receiving an export permit or situational
permit;
2. Any person who has received an export permit or situational permit by fraud or other
wrongful means.
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 9630, Apr. 22, 2009]
Article 50 (Relation to Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act)
(1)
As to the execution an order of coordination issued by the Minister of Knowledge
Economy pursuant to Article 46, the Monopoly Regulation
and Fair Trade Act shall
not apply.
Article 51 (Relation to National Security Act)
As to the exportation and importation of goods under this Act, the National Security Act
shall not apply as long as such activities
in the course of execution of business affairs
are considered fair and just.
Article 52 (Delegation and Entrustment of Authority)
(1) The Minister of Knowledge Economy may delegate part of his/her authority
under
this Act to the head of agencies under his/her control or the Mayors/Do Governors,
under conditions prescribed by Presidential
Decree, or entrust it to the heads of relevant
administrative agencies, the heads of customs offices, the Governor of the Bank of
Korea, President of the Export-Import Bank of Korea, the heads of foreign exchange
banks, and legal entities and organizations
specified by Presidential Decree.
(2) The Minister of Knowledge Economy shall direct or supervise those to whom his/her
494 Ministry of Government Legislation
PENAL PROVISIONSCHAPTER VII
authority has been delegated or entrusted in relation to the business affairs delegated
or entrusted pursuant to paragraph (1).
Article 53 (Penal Provisions)
(1) Anyone who commits a violation under any of the following subparagraphs to facilitate
international proliferation of strategic
items shall be punished by imprisonment for
not more than seven years or a fine not exceeding five times the value of exported
or mediated goods:
1. Exporting strategic items without an export permit under Article 19 (2);
2. Exporting any goods without a situational permit under Article 19 (3); or
3. Brokering a transaction of a strategic item without a brokerage permit under Article 24.
(2) Anyone who falls under any of the
following subparagraphs shall be punished by
imprisonment for not more than five years or a fine not exceeding three times the
value of exported or imported goods:
1. Any person who has violated a restriction or ban on exportation or importation
under any subparagraph of Article 5;
2. Any person who has exported a strategic item without an export permit under Article
19 (2);
3. Any person who has obtained an export permit under Article 19 (2) by false or
other fraudulent means;
4. Any person who has exported any goods without a situational permit under Article
19 (3);
5. Any person who has obtained a situational permit under Article 19 (3) by false
or other fraudulent means;
6. Any person who has brokered strategic items without a brokerage permit under Article
24;
7. Any person who has obtained a brokerage permit under Article 24 by false or
Laws on Green Growth, and Economic Investment in Korea
495
05_LawsConcerningEconomicInvestment
other fraudulent means;
8. Deleted; 9. Any person who has manipulated the export or import price of any goods in
violation of Article 43; or
10. Any person who has violated an order of coordination under Article 46 (1).
Article 53-2 (Penal Provisions)
Anyone who falls under any of the following subparagraphs shall be punished by
imprisonment for not more than five years and/or
by a fine not exceeding 100 million
won:
1. Any trader or distributor of goods who has violated Article 33 (4) 1 or 2;
2. Any trader who has failed to indicate the origin on goods requiring indication of origin
in violation of Article 33 (4) 3;
3. Any person who has violated an order to take corrective measures under Article 33
(6); or
4. Any person who has misrepresented foreign goods as domestic goods in violation of
Article 38.
[This Article Newly Inserted, Apr. 5, 2010]
Article 54 (Penal Provisions)
Anyone who falls under any of the following subparagraphs shall be punished by
imprisonment for not more than three years or by
a fine not exceeding 30 million won:
1. Any person who has provided or divulged the confidential corporate information which
he/she has acquired in the performance of
his/her duties to other persons, or used such
information for any other purpose in violation of Article 9 (2);
2. Any person who has exported or imported goods without obtaining approval or revised
approval under Article 11 (2) or (3);
3. Any person who has exported or imported any goods by obtaining approval or revised
approval under Article 11 (2) or (3) or being
exempted from such approval or revised
approval by false or other fraudulent means;
4. Any person who has failed to fulfill his/her duty to earn the foreign currencies equivalent
to the value of his/her imports as
provided for in the main clause of Article 16 (3)
(including cases applied mutatis mutandis in Article 17 (3));
496 Ministry of
Government Legislation
5. Any person who has used any material or equipment, or any goods manufactured with
such material or equipment for any purpose other
than its originally intended purpose
without approval obtained under the main clauses of Article 17 (1);
6. Any person who has transferred any material or equipment, or any goods manufactured
with such material or equipment to another
person without approval under Article 17
(2);
7. Any person who has breached his/her duty to not disclose confidential information
under Article 27;
8. Any person who has obtained approval or revised approval under Article 32 by false
or other fraudulent means;
9. Deleted; 10. Deleted; 11. Deleted.
An attempt to commit any offence set forth in Article 53 (1), or (2) 2, 4, or 6, or
subparagraph 1, 2, or 4 of Article 53-2 shall
be treated as the completion of the intended
offense for the purpose of punishment.
Any person who commits any offence that falls under subparagraph 1 or 2 of Article
53-2 by gross negligence shall be punished by
a fine not exceeding 20 million won.
If any representative of a legal entity, or any agent, employee, or any other employed
person of a legal entity or an individual
commits any offense in violation of any provisions
of Articles 53, 53-2, 54 through 56 in relation to business of the legal entity
or the
individual, both the offender and the legal entity or the individual shall be punished by
the fine prescribed in the appropriate
Article: Provided, That the same shall not apply
to cases where the legal entity or the individual has not neglected to exercise
due care
or to adequately supervise the relevant tasks so as to prevent such violations.
[This Article Wholly Amended, 2008.12.26]
Laws on Green Growth, and Economic Investment in Korea 497
05_LawsConcerningEconomicInvestment
Article 58 (Legal Fiction for Treatment as Public Officials in Application of Penal
Provisions)
For the purposes of the application of the penal provisions of Articles 129 through 132
of the Criminal Act, the executives and
employees of the Korea Strategic Trade Institute,
who carry out any of the business affairs set forth in Article 29 (5), the executives
and
employees of the Bank of Korea, the Export-Import Bank of Korea, foreign exchange
banks, who engage in any of the business
affairs entrusted by the Minister of Knowledge
Economy pursuant to Article 52, and the executives and employees of other legal entities
and organizations specified by Presidential Decree shall be treated as public officials.
(1) Any person who falls under any of the following subparagraphs shall be punished
by a fine for negligence not exceeding 20 million
won:
1. Any person who has failed to submit any relevant document in violation of Article
44 (2);
2. Any person who has rejected, obstructed, or evaded an investigation into facts under
Article 44 (3);
3. Any person who has failed to submit a report or data under Article 48 (1), or
has submitted a false report or data; or
4. Any person who has rejected, obstructed, or evaded an inspection under Article 48 (2).
(2) Any person who falls under any of the
following subparagraphs shall be punished
by a fine for negligence not exceeding 10 million won:
1. Any person who has breached his/her duty to keep documents in accordance with
Article 20 (3);
2. Any trader or distributer who has distributed any goods for sale without an
indication of origin under Article 33 (1) when he/she
imports such goods, which
shall bear an indication of origin, and trades them after dividing, re-packaging,
or having them processed
by simple works or trades them at piece-rates or in bulk;
3. Any person who has rejected, obstructed, or evaded an inspection under Article
33 (4); or
4. Any person who has failed to carry out an order to take a training course under
Article 49.
498 Ministry of Government Legislation
(3) Fine for negligence under paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be imposed and collected by
the Minister of Knowledge Economy or the
head of the appropriate administrative
agency under conditions prescribed by Presidential Decree.
(4) Through (6) Deleted.
ADDENDA
(1) (Effective Date) This Act shall take effect six months after the date of its promulgation.
(2) (Transitional Measure) Acts committed
before this Act takes effect shall be treated
according to the former provisions in applying penal provisions.
AsianLII:
Copyright Policy
|
Disclaimers
|
Privacy Policy
|
Feedback
URL: http://www.asianlii.org/kr/legis/laws/fta131