SEOUL, Dec. 15, 2025 — South Korea’s competition watchdog pledged on Monday to enforce antitrust rules without discriminating against foreign companies, as the head of the Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) sought to reassure U.S. businesses operating in the country.
Speaking at a special briefing hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM), KFTC Chairman Joo Byung-ki said the authority would continue to apply competition rules equally to domestic and foreign firms and avoid imposing unnecessary regulatory barriers on overseas companies.
The remarks came amid heightened global scrutiny of competition enforcement in digital markets and growing concerns among multinational firms about regulatory uncertainty. Joo emphasized that fair competition is essential to ensuring innovation is properly rewarded during the digital transformation of the economy, allowing innovation to spread across industries and support long-term growth.
Under the theme “The Great Transformation of the 21st Century and Competition Policy,” Joo outlined the KFTC’s key policy priorities, including easing regulatory burdens on small businesses, strengthening fair competition to support innovation ecosystems, fostering a safe and trustworthy consumer environment, and building institutional infrastructure to support a fair economy.
The KFTC chair also said the authority would expand direct communication with foreign businesses to improve the predictability and transparency of competition policy, a longstanding concern for multinational companies operating in South Korea.
AMCHAM Chairman James Kim welcomed the engagement, noting that fair competition and consumer protection are foundational to building a dynamic digital economy. He said AMCHAM looks forward to continued cooperation with the KFTC to help Korea align its regulatory environment with global standards.
The meeting followed a broader consultation held in November between the KFTC and foreign chambers of commerce, which focused on collecting concerns from overseas businesses. Monday’s event was aimed at directly explaining the KFTC’s policy direction to U.S. companies operating in Korea.
