Fair Trade Commission Sharing Competition Law Expertise with Developing Countries

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) announced on the 5th that it conducted a competition law training program for officials from competition authorities in developing countries.

The KFTC invited practitioners from the competition authorities of Indonesia, Thailand, and Serbia and conducted a 10-day training on Korea's competition law system until that day. Since 2008, the KFTC has been inviting staff from newly established competition authorities who lack experience in enforcing competition law and face practical difficulties to provide on-site practical training.

The countries selected for the practical training were chosen based on a prior needs survey, considering factors such as past participation, diplomatic and economic relations with Korea, regional mutual cooperation directions, and expected benefits.

This training was delivered as practical education tailored to the development stage of competition law in the selected countries and the individual needs of participants, with KFTC practitioners who actually handle areas such as cartels and mergers serving as instructors. Additionally, participants visited related organizations such as the Korea Fair Trade Mediation Agency and the Korea Consumer Agency.

This year, in connection with the Competition Policy Division of the OECD Korea Policy Centre, which celebrates its 20th anniversary, participants were able to attend the Asia-Pacific regional competition authorities' senior officials roundtable and competition law expert workshop held under the theme of competition advocacy.

The training was conducted in a hybrid format combining online and in-person sessions. Self-produced video lectures were provided on core competition law topics such as cartels, mergers, and abuse of market dominance, which are essential areas and topics needed by the recipient countries. KFTC practitioners directly responsible for these areas also delivered face-to-face lectures on the KFTC’s legal system, case handling procedures, and major rulings.

The KFTC expressed its expectation that "this training program will greatly help strengthen relations with competition authorities and support and protect Korean companies that have entered or plan to enter the recipient countries."