Article 1(Purpose) #
The purpose of this Decree is to prescribe matters necessary for preferential tariffs to least developed countries under Article 76(3) of the Customs Act.
Article 2(Least developed countries) #
(1) "Period prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 76(3) of the Customs Act (hereinafter referred to as the "Act") means 3 years.
(2) "Country prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 76(3) of the Act means any country specified in Appendix 1.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Feb. 28, 2025]
Article 3(Goods subject to preferential tariffs and tariff rates) #
Goods subject to preferential tariffs and the preferential tariff rates applicable thereto shall be as specified in Appendix 2; provided, preferential tariff rates may be applied to the goods with a minimum market access volume set in accordance with the Regulations on Tariff Concessions in the Framework of the Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, Etc. to the extent of such quantity.
Article 4(Relief of domestic industrial damage) #
(1) Where importation of specific goods increases among goods subject to preferential tariff, and causes or is likely to cause serious damage to the domestic industry producing the same goods or goods that directly compete with such specific goods, and therefore it is necessary to prevent such damage, the head of a relevant central administrative agency or an interested party may request the Minister of Economy and Finance to suspend the application of a preferential tariff to the relevant goods. <Amended on Dec. 30, 2025>
(2) The head of a relevant central administrative agency or an interested party intending to request the suspension of the application of a preferential tariff under paragraph (1) shall submit the following data to the Minister of Economy and Finance: <Amended on Dec. 30, 2025>
1. HS code, name, specification, purpose of use, and substitute of the relevant goods;
2. Raw materials used to manufacture the relevant goods; description of manufacturing process of products made from the relevant goods; and purpose of use of such products;
3. Records of and plans for the supply and demand during the immediately preceding year and for the year immediately following the relevant year;
4. The monthly import price of the relevant goods by major exporting countries and import records thereof of the current year;
5. The monthly factory price of the relevant goods by major domestic manufacturers and their shipment records out of factories of the current year;
6. Details of damage to the domestic industry and suspension period of application;
7. Other data evidencing that damage is inflicted or is likely to be inflicted on the domestic industry.
(3) The Minister of Economy and Finance shall examine whether any ground exists to suspend the application of a preferential tariff, within 15 days from the date the measures are requested under paragraph (1), unless there is a compelling reason not to do so. <Amended on Dec. 30, 2025>
(4) If the Minister of Economy and Finance finds it necessary to suspend the application of a preferential tariff as a result of the examination conducted under paragraph (3), he or she shall determine the suspension of the application of a preferential tariff without delay and publicly notify such fact. <Amended on Dec. 30, 2025>
(5) The suspension of a preferential tariff shall take effect on the date it is publicly notified under paragraph (4).
Article 5(Rules of origin) #
(1) Goods eligible for the application of a preferential tariff shall be goods wholly produced in or obtained from the exporting country. In such cases, the following goods shall be considered as produced or wholly obtained entirely in the exporting country: <Amended on Jan. 5, 2021>
1. Raw materials or minerals extracted from the soil, water, sea floor of the exporting country;
2. Agricultural and forest products harvested in the exporting country;
3. Animals raised in the exporting country and products obtained from such animals;
4. Goods obtained through hunting or fishery in the exporting country;
5. Marine products collected or captured from international waters by a vessel of the exporting country and the products produced or processed therefrom. In such cases, "vessel of the exporting country" means a vessel registered in the exporting country and at least 60 percent of the value of which is owned by the people, the government, or the enterprises, associations duly registered in the exporting country;
6. Used goods collected in the exporting country for the purpose of recovering raw materials;
7. Wastes and scrap materials derived from the manufacturing process in the exporting country;
8. Goods exclusively produced in the exporting country using the materials prescribed in subparagraphs 1 through 7 as their raw materials.
(2) In cases of goods finally manufactured or processed in the territory of the exporting country with raw materials produced in countries other than the exporting country or of undetermined countries of origin, a preferential tariff shall apply only where the price of the relevant raw materials does not exceed 60/100 of the FOB price of the final product. In such cases, when the final product contains any raw material produced in the Republic of Korea, the price of such raw material shall be excluded from the price calculation of the raw material.
(3) The price of the raw materials referred to in paragraph (2) shall be calculated in the following order:
1. The price as at the time they are imported by the exporting country (including freight and insurance premium);
2. The ascertainable price initially paid in the exporting country.
(4) Any person who wishes to be accorded preferential tariff treatment shall submit a certificate of origin in the attached form, issued by the exporting government, or by an institution designated by the government of the exporting country.