Republic of Korea: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy opened consultation on draft texts of Korea-European Union Digital Trade Agreement

On 29 August 2025, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy opened a public consultation on the English and Korean drafts of the Korea-EU Digital Trade Agreement (DTA) until 11 September 2025. The DTA establishes a framework to facilitate electronic commerce, support legal certainty and an open, fair online environment. Its core provisions centre on trusted data flows, requiring parties not to restrict cross-border data transfers through measures such as data localisation, while allowing for legitimate public policy objectives such as cybersecurity and privacy protection, provided measures are non-discriminatory and proportionate. The DTA also features consumer protection measures against fraudulent practices, promotes transparency in electronic transactions, ensures effective redress mechanisms, prohibits customs duties on electronic transmissions, and mandates legal frameworks for personal data protection that allow cross-border transfers under appropriate safeguards.