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4.220. Under the Act on Contracts to Which the State Is a Party, contracts are awarded in close connection with the utilization of public procurement for industrial policy objectives (...) [296]

[296] The authorities indicate that public procurement methods are chosen in accordance with the Act on Contracts to Which the State Is a Party (...) direct contracting and limited competition-based bidding are also used in cases of more than two failed biddings, and natural disasters and the like (...).

4.226. During the review period, the Public Procurement Service (PPS) maintained its 2009 Action Plan for Green Purchasing and its 2010 Purchasing Guidelines for the Promotion of Public Purchase of Green Products, which were revised in 2019 to include provisions for lump-sum contracts. To expand demand for green products, as of 2020, 109 items (100 in 2015) highly in demand by public-sector entities, such as previously used office machines, recycled products, LED lamps, hybrid vehicles, high-efficiency equipment, synthetic wood, and renewable energy facilities, were designated by the PPS as Minimum Environmental Standard products. The PPS provides preferential treatment for companies with green construction works in pre-qualification eligibility examination. In 2017, the PPS purchased green products accounting for 25.7% (18.6% in 2015) of the total value of domestic procurement of goods.

4.234. As of February 2021, Korea continued to participate in 20 of 25 treaties administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and is a party to the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) Convention. (...)

4.242. Patent protection under the Patent Act of 1946 (last amended in 2020) is for 20 years (...). Both product and process patents may be granted. (...) Green technology is allowed speedy screening/examination. (...).

4.261. As from 2018, a Genetic Resource Information Center has operated and a special judicial police (Section 3.3.7.3) was expanded to crack down on violations of breed protection rights and protect the development of new plant varieties in response to new international norms concerning biological and genetic resources, such as the Nagoya Protocol.

4.268. Confidential data submitted to authorities for registration of pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals are prohibited from public disclosure unless the authorities see a public interest need (i.e. health, safety, or environmental protection), particularly with respect to pesticides and their ingredients (Agrochemicals Control Act and Pharmaceuticals Affairs Act). (...).

5.2. Korea is a net fish importer. Its fisheries resources in distant and adjacent waters continue to deplete. The Government has been promoting the development of aquaculture production in shallow sea areas. Foreign direct investment (FDI) restriction on fisheries was removed in 2016, while border protection mainly takes the form of tariffs and adjustment tariffs. The Government continues to fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

5.3. (...) Korea relies heavily on imported energy, particularly fossil fuels. Korea remains an energy intensive country. The Government is committed to advance the country's energy transition by increasing the share of renewable electricity to 20% by 2030, and to 30%-35% by 2040, to gradually phase out coal and nuclear from the energy mix, while significantly improving energy efficiency, and fostering the hydrogen industry. (...).

5.4. Manufacturing remains an important activity and is heavily export-oriented (91.4% of total merchandise exports in 2020). (...) Sector-specific measures include those to promote the purchase of eco-friendly vehicles, use information and communication technologies (ICT), and meet environmental requirements set by international organizations in the shipbuilding industry.

5.5. During the review period, communication technologies (ICT) was emphasized, as requested in the Korean New Deal, as an important tool for the Government to employ to facilitate the development of various sectors, and to meet its environmental protection targets. Korea committed, under the Paris Agreement, to limit its emissions of carbon dioxide equivalent. Various support has been provided to help the economy, which is facing difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.