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4-5 · Start-up & business operations

Regulatory Sandbox Application (Special Exception for Demonstration and Temporary Permit)

The regulatory sandbox lets a business apply to the competent ministry for rapid regulatory confirmation, a special exception for demonstration, or a temporary permit when a new product or service cannot be launched because it does not fit the standards or specifications of existing laws. Industrial convergence applications go to the Ministry of Trade and Industry under Articles 10-2 through 10-7 of the Industrial Convergence Promotion Act, and information and communications convergence applications go to the Ministry of Science and ICT under the Special Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Technology, Vitalization of Convergence Thereof, Etc. For rapid regulatory confirmation, the relevant agency replies within 30 days, and if no reply is given within that period, no permit is deemed necessary. For special exceptions for demonstration and temporary permits, the relevant agency replies with its review within 30 days (excluding time spent supplementing materials, up to 90 days), and the Regulatory Special Exception Review Committee then decides whether to allow it and on what conditions. In the industrial convergence field, a special exception for demonstration is valid for up to 2 years (the committee may set up to 4 years) and a temporary permit for up to 2 years (the committee may set up to 3 years), and the business must take out liability insurance before starting the project.

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#Regulatory Sandbox Application (Special Exception for Demonstration and Temporary Permit)#Official check#4-5
🌐 How to Apply for the Regulatory Sandbox
01

Procedure

Procedure

  1. 01

    Choose the program: If it is unclear whether a permit is needed at all, apply for rapid regulatory confirmation. Where the law has no suitable standards or existing standards do not fit, consider a temporary permit if the goal is market launch, or a special exception for demonstration if the goal is testing and verification; if another law makes a permit application impossible, only a special exception for demonstration is available.

  2. 02

    Identify the blocking provisions and the competent ministry: Pinpoint the statutory provisions blocking the business and the law that governs the permit, and choose the competent ministry for the business, such as the Ministry of Trade and Industry for industrial convergence products and services or the Ministry of Science and ICT for information and communications convergence technologies and services. Also check whether an earlier approved case has substantially the same content or method.

  3. 03

    Prepare the application and business implementation plan: Attach the business implementation plan, materials on innovation and user benefits, materials on market growth potential, materials on possible damage and compensation measures, and materials on life, health, safety and personal information protection to the statutory application form for the field, and submit them to the competent ministry.

  4. 04

    Respond to agency review and supplement requests: The relevant agency replies in writing within 30 days; when it requests supplementary materials, that time is excluded, but it must still reply within 90 days. If a similar earlier case exists, the reply period is shortened to within 15 days and review by an expert committee may replace the full committee review.

  5. 05

    Committee review and conditions: The Regulatory Special Exception Review Committee looks at the business implementation plan, innovation, the likelihood of irreparable damage and the adequacy of compensation measures, decides whether to allow the project and its area, period and scale, and may attach conditions needed for safety. Organize the review criteria notified at the time of approval as operating standards for the business.

  6. 06

    Liability insurance and follow-up: Take out liability insurance before starting the project (if insurance is unavailable, submit a statement of reasons for being unable to obtain liability insurance and a separate compensation plan), and start the business within 2 years from the approval date. Apply for extension of the validity period 2 months before expiry, and if no request to revise the law was made, submit the results of the special exception and the business within 30 days from the expiry date.

02

Filing route

Filing route

Competent ministry by field (industrial convergence: Ministry of Trade and Industry; information and communications convergence: Ministry of Science and ICT)

Confirm the current filing office, jurisdiction, and online availability on the official website.

Official check
Actual processing agencyCompetent Korean authority or official service · Competent Korean authority or official service · Competent Korean authority or official service
Statutory and policy authorityCompetent Korean authority or official service
Online routeCompetent Korean authority or official service
03

Deadlines & processing notes

Deadlines & processing notes

Check deadlines and next steps against the notice, filing date, and any request for additional documents.Official check
04

Basic documents

Basic documents

Basic documents0 / 8

Once a special exception or temporary permit ends or is revoked, the product or service can no longer be sold or provided, so the business may have to stop if no extension application or request to revise the law is filed at least 2 months before the validity period expires.

Scope of services

Scope of services

Hwang Yunsang Administrative Agent Office prepares and translates documents for administrative agencies, submits them on your behalf, and guides you through permit, application, and notification procedures. Services that require the principal’s personal appearance, principal’s application, or electronic signature may be limited in delegation.