How to Apply for the Regulatory Sandbox — Differences Between the Special Exception for Demonstration, Temporary Permit and Rapid Regulatory Confirmation, and Validity Periods

Procedure

1. 1. Identify which program applies

   If it is unclear whether a permit or similar approval is required at all, apply for rapid regulatory confirmation. If the laws and regulations have no standards, specifications or requirements that fit, or it is not appropriate to apply the existing standards, the case is eligible for a special exception for demonstration or a temporary permit. If another law or regulation makes it impossible even to apply for a permit, apply for a special exception for demonstration, which allows testing within a limited area, period and scale.

2. 2. Check the ministry in charge and the governing Act

   For new industrial convergence products and services, apply to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources under the Industrial Convergence Promotion Act. For information and communications convergence technologies and services, apply to the Ministry of Science and ICT under the Special Act on Information and Communications Promotion and Convergence Activation. Other fields, such as finance and regional special zones, have their own governing Acts and ministries in charge, so you must choose the application channel that matches the business.

3. 3. Prepare the business implementation plan and apply

   Set out in the business implementation plan the regulatory provisions that block the business, the details of the new product or service, the area, period and scale of the demonstration, the plan for ensuring safety and the damage compensation plan, and then apply. The deliberation looks at innovativeness and benefits to users, the growth potential of the related market, the life, health and safety of the public, and the protection of personal information.

4. 4. Review by related agencies and deliberation

   When the ministry in charge notifies the related administrative agencies of the application, the related agencies reply with the results of their review within 30 days. The time taken to supplement materials is excluded from the calculation, but even in that case they must reply within 90 days. The Regulatory Exception Deliberation Committee then deliberates on whether to allow the exception and on its area, period and scale, and may attach necessary conditions.

5. 5. Liability insurance, start of business and follow-up reporting

   A business operator granted an exception takes out liability insurance to compensate for personal injury and property damage before starting the business. In the industrial convergence field, the exception may be revoked if, without a justifiable reason, the business is not started within 2 years from the date the exception was granted. When the validity period ends, the operator submits the results of applying the regulatory exception and of the business within 30 days.

Required documents

• Application form for rapid regulatory confirmation, special exception for demonstration or temporary permit (form prescribed for each field)
• Business implementation plan (details of the new product or service; area, period and scale of the demonstration)
• Materials explaining the regulatory provisions that block the business and the reasons an exception is needed
• Plan for ensuring safety and plan for protecting users
• Damage compensation plan (plan to take out liability insurance)
• Business registration certificate; corporate register certificate (for a corporation)
• Letter of authorization (when filed by an agent)

Fees

In the market, fees generally range from several hundred thousand won to several million won. We will advise you on the fee after a consultation, based on the program applied for and the scope of drafting the business implementation plan.

See fees and official charges for this service →

Legal basis and review date

• Industrial Convergence Promotion Act, Article 10-2
• Industrial Convergence Promotion Act, Article 10-3
• Industrial Convergence Promotion Act, Article 10-4
• Industrial Convergence Promotion Act, Article 10-5
• Industrial Convergence Promotion Act, Article 10-6
• Special Act on Information and Communications Promotion and Convergence Activation, Article 38-2

Checked against the statutes on 2026-10-04

Statutes and public notices change, so each case needs to be checked individually. Statute titles are given in English for reference. The Korean statutes are the authoritative text.

Check these first

• Validity periods and extension criteria differ under the governing Act for each field. The periods in this guide are based on the Industrial Convergence Promotion Act, and for other fields the relevant Act must be checked separately.
• If the content and scope of the exception are labeled or advertised falsely or with exaggeration, the exception may be revoked.

Frequently asked questions