GR, Government Relations

“Their ability to work as team px-layers, analyse problems and make sound decisions and communicate effectively, together with their penchant for detail were all key to our success.”

- The Asia Pacific Legal 500

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Overview

BKL’s Government Relations Group is dedicated to making Korea a favorable environment for business by addressing and improving unreasonable regulations and systems that hinder business activities. In particular, we are actively playing a role in supporting new industries and startups facing regulatory challenges, helping them overcome barriers and achieve sustainable growth.

Our mission is to amplify the voices of businesses in critical policy and legislative processes, while delivering comprehensive and strategic solutions to improve unreasonable laws and systems.

To meet the unique needs of our clients. BKL has formed a team of experts with extensive practical and policy experience across various government authorities, including the central government, the National Assembly, and local governments, enabling us to provide customized services tailored to each client’s objectives..

Resolution of Issues through Administrative Procedures

BKL addresses business challenges stemming from unreasonable policies or regulations through administrative procedures. Depending on the specifics of each case, we comprehensively consider a range of alternatives such as authoritative interpretation of statutes, requests for audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection, petitions for regulatory reform, and regulatory sandboxes. We evaluate these options comprehensively to recommend and implement the most effective solutions.

Resolution of Issues through Legislation

When administrative procedures are insufficient to resolve an issue, we also provide solutions that address the root cause by amending the underlying laws and regulations. In addition to proposing and supporting the enactment or amendment o of laws in the National Assembly as well as subordinate laws (such as presidential decrees and ministerial decrees), we also support the passage of laws and regulations by persuading the National Assembly, the government, and stakeholders. We also assist in related tasks such as responding to state audits conducted by the National Assembly.

Key Services

Authoritative Interpretation

Obtaining authoritative interpretations from central and local government bodies on statutes, ordinances, and related regulations

Securing interpretive opinions from the Ministry of Government Legislation on questions of statutory construction

Audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection

Advising on audit petitions and related procedures

Advising on objections, appeals, and responses to audit findings

Regulatory Complaints and Regulatory Sandbox

Pursuing regulatory improvements through complaints filed with the Regulatory Rationalization Committee, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, and other relevant bodies

Leveraging regulatory sandbox mechanisms to secure temporary exemptions from existing regulations

Utilizing proactive administrative pre-consulting to counter passive or unresponsive enforcement

Legislative Advocacy – National Assembly and the Government

Driving and responding to legislative initiatives in the National Assembly, including bill drafting and committee review

Navigating government-led legislative processes, including pre-announcement of legislation and regulatory review for statutes, ministerial directives, and public notices

Supporting and responding to legislative developments at the local government level, including ordinances and administrative rules

National Assembly Inspection of State Affairs

Managing all stages of the process, from witness designation and testimony preparation through to appearance before the Assembly

Handling follow-on matters, including responses to non-appearance issues and allegations of false testimony

Practice Areas

Representative Cases

Securing a business permit for Ulleung Samul through the Board of Audit and Inspection's proactive administrative pre-consulting process

Obtaining an exemption from educational environment impact assessment requirements for a development project through an authoritative interpretation by the Ministry of Government Legislation

Advising on an authoritative interpretation of the Enforcement Decree of the Clean Air Conservation Act regarding the use of non-clean fuels at power generation facilities located in designated clean fuel zones

Advising on permits, approvals, and regulatory responses in connection with coal-fired power generation projects and related government policy

Advising on the acquisition of forest land conversion permits and operating licenses for golf course development

Advising a bank in connection with a public interest audit petition filed with the Board of Audit and Inspection

Handling a civil complaint relating to the expansion of a waste treatment facility

Securing an amendment to the Urban Gas Business Act to enable the utilization of liquefied natural gas cold energy

Securing an amendment to prevent ambush marketing by non-sponsor companies during the PyeongChang Olympics

Securing an amendment to the Foreign Trade Act to enable domestic companies to enter into government-to-government export contracts with foreign governments, with the support of a dedicated agency overseeing such arrangements

Securing an amendment to the Private School Act to permit faculty members of private medical schools to hold concurrent positions at affiliated hospitals

Securing an amendment to the Agricultural Cooperatives Act to extend special provisions applicable to NH Insurance (the insurance subsidiary of Korea's National Agricultural Cooperative Federation)

Securing an amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Private Teaching Institutes Act to ease regulations on online English conversation services

Securing an amendment to the relevant Enforcement Decree to shift the immediate implementation of new diesel vehicle certification standards (WLTP) to a phased rollout

Advising the representative of a large conglomerate on witness designation and preparation in connection with the National Assembly's inspection of state affairs

Key Contacts

Our Team

GR, Government Relations

Overview

Key Services

Practice Areas

Representative Cases

Key Contacts

Related Content

Practice Areas

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