{"id":2199246,"date":"2022-10-25T10:05:37","date_gmt":"2022-10-25T10:05:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nknews.org\/koreapro\/?p=2199246"},"modified":"2023-04-05T16:11:06","modified_gmt":"2023-04-05T07:11:06","slug":"why-south-koreas-highly-regulated-economy-is-a-headache-for-foreign-investors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2022\/10\/why-south-koreas-highly-regulated-economy-is-a-headache-for-foreign-investors\/","title":{"rendered":"Why South Korea\u2019s highly regulated economy is a headache for foreign investors"},"content":{"rendered":"
South Korea is a modern, highly successful economy that also happens to be one of the most regulated among developed countries across some sectors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i> analysis finds that the effects of such regulations include:<\/span><\/p>\n In some sectors of the South Korean economy, the regulation does seem to impede investment, trade, gross domestic product (GDP) growth and productivity improvements.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Price regulations (beyond tariffs), restrictions on foreign investment in a number of sectors and command and control regulation probably hurt both domestic and foreign investors. Network industries are a prime example of where foreign investors are hurt by regulatory controls.<\/span><\/p>\n Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) <\/span>figures<\/span><\/a> indicate that South Korea\u2019s stronger-than-average regulations are likely to have a deeper impact on domestic producers and foreign investors than most.<\/span><\/p>\n A large port in Busan, South Korea | Image: Pexels<\/p><\/div>\n In some areas, South Korea is ahead of the pack, for instance in the open availability of regulations and laws before they are put into effect, and a comprehensive (by OECD standards) process to reduce compliance costs and the administrative burden facing firms. The transparency of regulations also lessens the burden on startups.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n South Korea has a comparatively underdeveloped service sector and its involvement in the global trade in services is also relatively small compared to its huge merchandise trade (see World Trade Organization <\/span>data<\/span><\/a>), but its service trade remains comparatively <\/span>open<\/span><\/a> overall.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Its tariff rates are, however, <\/span>high<\/span><\/a> by OECD standards, with agricultural tariffs a particular outlier, but many other goods are also subject to tariffs that are higher than the OECD average. This places additional burdens upon foreign producers and investors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Nonetheless, some professions include some controls on prices (for architects, notaries, and real estate) and a need to receive separate domestic accreditation (civil engineers, accountants and lawyers). Price controls may benefit domestic and foreign investors outside these industries, but a lack of recognition of foreign qualifications create barriers to entry for foreign professionals. Many of these are sectors that are comparatively <\/span>tightly<\/span><\/a> regulated within OECD countries generally, however.<\/span><\/p>\n Interestingly, some transport (buses) and retail prices (for staples) are regulated or controlled, though the latter has had little impact on inflation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n By OECD standards, regulations on the price of staples may be unusual. However, the real<\/span> concern<\/span><\/a> of the retail industry is the regulation of the opening hours of large retail outlets designed to support and protect smaller retailers (especially market stallholders). Discrimination against large retailers may have a negative impact on <\/span>productivity<\/span><\/a> in the retail sector (for<\/span> instance<\/span><\/a>), though the evidence is <\/span>mixed<\/span><\/a>, with smaller firms potentially becoming more<\/span> productive<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Retail is among South Korea’s relatively more open sectors, Peter Ward writes | Image: Jamie Diaz \/ Pexels<\/p><\/div>\n OPEN FOR BUSINESS?<\/b><\/p>\n The retail sector is quite open to foreign direct investment, however, according to the OECD\u2019s FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness <\/span>Index<\/span><\/a>. Other sectors are far more tightly regulated, however.<\/span><\/p>\n The maritime sector is the most tightly regulated, followed by radio and TV broadcasting and the media. The fisheries sector is quite highly regulated, as well as transport, airlines and electricity distribution (the U.S. State Department also maintains a useful <\/span>list<\/span><\/a> of sectors subject to investment restrictions, also see Santander\u2019s trade portal <\/span>entry<\/span><\/a>).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n