ACRC Opens Permanent Consultation Desk for Foreign Businesspeople

- Following last month’s policy roundtable with foreign businesspeople in Korea, the ACRC is working to enhance policy accessibility and provide more effective support.

(28, May. 2025, ACRC)

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan) has announced the launch of a permanent consultation desk dedicated to addressing the grievances of foreign businesspeople in Korea, as a follow-up measure tothe policy roundtable held on April 17 at Government Complex Seoul for executives of foreign chambers of commerce in Korea.

As this year’s roundtable, which marked its 16th edition, executives from 10 foreign chambers of commerce, including those representing the United States, Europe, and Japan, offered a range of policy recommendations. These included ▴expanding employment and internship opportunities for international students in Korea, ▴improving the foreign worker employment system in the hotel industry, ▴easing market entry barriers for foreign companies in the government procurement sector, and ▴updating English-language government websites to ensure accuracy and accessibility.

Furthermore, they voiced a practical concern regarding business operations, noting that frequent personnel changes among government officials undermine administrative consistency and cause delays in grievance handling and consultations.

The ACRC will review the recommendations made during the roundtable, register individual issues as grievance cases, and submit policy proposals to the relevant ministries regarding cross-ministerial regulatory matters, including improvements to work visa policies for international students.

In particular, the ACRC will establish and operate a permanent consultation platform dedicated to foreign companies in Korea to directly receive and address their grievances, thereby improving their access to government policies and enhancing effective support.

for Foreign Companies in Korea>

The ACRC invited foreign correspondents to the policy roundtable to listen to the grievances of foreign companies and to raise international awareness of the government’s efforts to seek solutions. In addition, the ACRC presented the recommendations raised during the roundtable at a Cabinet meeting, requesting active interest and cooperation from the relevant ministries.

ACRC Acting Assistant Chairman of the Office of Planning and Coordination, Yang Jong-sam said, "In terms of company management, predictable and consistent administrative procedures are important above all." Furthermore, he added, "The ACRC will put our utmost efforts into creating a business-friendly administrative environment through regular communication with foreign companies in Korea going forward. This will also contribute to enhancing South Korea’s image as a transparent and open nation."