On September 30 2026, the CanCham Korea was invited to a policy roundtable hosted by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) at the Korea Press Center in Seoul.
The Chamber joined nine other foreign business organisations, representing Australia, Britain, China, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Spain and Sweden. ACRC Chairperson Jeong Il-yeon opened the meeting, and the Commission’s bureau heads then presented its grievance-handling and anti-corruption work before an open discussion.
Foreign business as a partner in Korea’s economy
In his opening remarks, the Chairperson described foreign companies as important partners in Korea’s growth and development. He noted that foreign direct investment pledges reached a record US$36 billion in 2025, of which US$28.5 billion was greenfield investment in new factories and business sites, and that investment in AI, semiconductors and biotechnology is growing. Foreign investment, he said, is more than an inflow of capital: it brings technology, knowledge, global supply chains and new management practices.
He added that tax incentives alone are not enough. What matters is the transparency of administration, the predictability of regulation and the fairness of competition that companies actually experience on the ground. He committed the ACRC to continue working with government ministries so that foreign companies can operate in a transparent and predictable environment.
In closing, he said that a good business environment is not something government creates on its own; it is built through continued dialogue with businesses. Because foreign companies see Korea’s systems from a different angle, their experience helps the government find and fix what it has missed.
What the chambers raised
Several chambers began by recognising progress. Speakers noted that public-sector corruption cases have fallen sharply since Korea’s anti-graft law took effect, that the ACRC has grown more open and accessible over the years, and that Korea’s business environment has improved considerably over the long term. The Spanish chamber thanked the Commission for adding Spanish to its online petition service, and the Japanese business community reported no complaints to raise.
The concerns raised were practical ones:
- Predictability and a level playing field: International standards are not always recognised in Korea, so companies face additional Korea-only certification, with added cost and delay.
- Rigid rules: Employment law was described as strict and hard to predict, and some product and import requirements were said to have outlived their purpose.
- Tax: The income tax treatment of foreign executives and employees matters when multinationals decide where to place people and regional offices.
- Foundations: Setting up a non-profit fo .undation requires ministry approval and continuing oversight, unlike setting up a company.
- Compliance guidance: Chambers asked for practical guidance on the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act when inviting government officials to chamber events.
The Chairperson said the Commission would review the points raised with the relevant ministries and reply in writing. He added that the government is reviewing all legislation to reduce criminal penalty provisions and excessive regulation, for Korean and foreign companies alike.
The main message
The Chairperson’s central point was that the ACRC stands on the side of the petitioner, not the administrative agency. If a business has applied to an agency for a permit or approval and received an outcome it cannot accept or understand, the ACRC is where it can turn. This applies to foreign companies and individuals as much as to Korean ones.
Unless a request is against the law or conflicts with the interests of others, the Commission looks for a way to resolve it. That includes proposing alternatives and helping the business and the agency reach agreement. Where a request cannot be granted, it explains why. In the past five years the ACRC handled roughly 50,000 grievance complaints and upheld about 26% of them.
What help is available, and how to get it
- File a petition online through e-People (epeople.go.kr): The service is available in 16 languages, including English and, since last year, French and Spanish. Petitions are translated into Korean, handled by the responsible agency, and answered in the language in which they were filed. Results can be received through the website, by email or by text message.
- On-site outreach: ACRC investigators and partner-agency experts travel to take complaints in person, and senior officials visit industrial sites when business difficulties are expected.
- Systemic fixes: Beyond individual cases, the ACRC recommends changes to rules and systems. Recent examples include recommending that an unfairly imposed property acquisition tax be cancelled and that a local ordinance improperly restricting waste-treatment facilities be amended.
- Anti-corruption guidance: Guidance materials on the anti-graft and conflict-of-interest laws are available on the ACRC website and on request.
The Commission asked businesses to bring specific cases and supporting information, since concrete examples are what allow it to review an issue and take it up with the agency concerned.
Marie is responsible for business development at CanCham Korea. She has been involved in business in Korea for the past 20 years. She grew up in Nova Scotia where she studied Entrepreneurship and Political Science at Saint Mary’s University.