What changes did ECCK want Korea to make to EV regulations and defense offset rules?

ECCK urged Korean authorities to improve electric vehicle certification and assessment procedures, and to harmonize them more closely with international standards. It also called for greater predictability and transparency in the defense offset system, especially clearer evaluation criteria for advanced technology projects.

How many recommendations were in ECCK’s annual white paper and who presented them?

The white paper included 82 recommendations from 15 committees and three forums. The recommendations were presented during a press conference on the paper by ECCK committee representatives, including Kim Hong-joong and Francois Piolet.

What other regulatory issues did ECCK committees raise besides EVs and defense offsets?

ECCK committees also called for changes in health care, food, energy and alcoholic beverages. Their requests included faster reimbursement listings for innovative medicines, digitalized health certificates, more English-language guidance on packaging rules, greater predictability for offshore wind projects and looser e-commerce delivery rules for alcoholic beverages.

ECCK calls for easing EV regulation, predictability in defense trade

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Summary

The European Chamber of Commerce in Korea recommended easing EV regulations and improving predictability in Korea’s defense offset system in its annual white paper unveiled Wednesday. ECCK also urged closer alignment with international standards for EV certification and assessment, and clearer criteria for advanced technology projects in AI, cybersecurity and quantum. The paper includes 82 recommendations from 15 committees and three forums.

Key Facts

ECCK Passenger Vehicle Committee Chair Kim Hong-joong said Korea should better align EV regulations with international standards.
The white paper contains 82 recommendations from 15 committees and three forums.
ECCK said the defense offset system should have greater predictability and transparency, with clearer evaluation criteria for advanced technology projects in AI, cybersecurity and quantum.
The health care committee called for faster reimbursement listings for innovative medicines and mutual recognition of Good Manufacturing Practice standards between Korea and the EU.
The energy and environment committee asked for greater regulatory predictability for offshore wind projects.

By Nam Hyun-woo

Published Sep 30, 2026 4:56 pm KST

Committee chairs of the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK) attend a press conference on the ECCK White Paper 2026 at the Korea Press Center in Jung District, Seoul, Wednesday. From left are Ana-Maria Boie, chairperson of the healthcare committee; Thomas Caso, chairperson of the food committee; Hyunseung Lee, chairperson of the energy & environment committee; Hongjung Kim, chairperson of the passenger vehicles committee; Fadil Tasgin, chairperson of the alcoholic beverages committee; and Francois Piolet, chairperson of the aerospace & defense committee. Courtesy of ECCK

The European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK) recommended that Korean authorities ease regulations on electric vehicles (EVs) and improve predictability in the defense offset system in its annual white paper unveiled Wednesday.

The ECCK regularly discusses regulatory issues with the Korean government through its industry committees, and publishes its white paper annually to convey concerns and recommendations from its member companies. This year’s edition contains 82 recommendations from 15 committees and three forums.

During a press conference on the paper, ECCK Passenger Vehicle Committee Chair Kim Hong-joong urged Korea to better align its EV regulations with international standards.

“We recommend improvements to electric vehicle certification and assessment procedures, as well as greater harmonization with and mutual recognition of international standards for advanced automotive technologies,” Kim said.

“If Korea and Europe enhance regulatory alignment and reduce unnecessary differences in line with the spirit of the free trade agreement and international standards, it would greatly help accelerate EV adoption and facilitate the timely introduction of advanced technologies for Korean consumers.”

The ECCK also called for greater predictability in the country’s defense offset system, which refers to arrangements in which a foreign supplier promises economic or industrial benefits to the purchasing country as a condition of an arms sale.

“The ECCK calls for greater predictability and transparency in Korea’s offset system, including clearer evaluation criteria for advanced technology projects in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum,” ECCK Aerospace & Defense Committee Chair Francois Piolet said.

“There is strong potential for European companies to expand their role across Korea’s defense supply chain, from subsystems to lifecycle support.”

Other committees also called for regulatory changes across health care, food, energy and alcoholic beverages. The health care committee recommended faster reimbursement listings for innovative medicines and mutual recognition of Good Manufacturing Practice standards between Korea and the EU.

The food committee sought further digitalization of health certificates and more English-language guidance on packaging regulations, while the energy & environment committee called for greater regulatory predictability for offshore wind projects. The alcohol beverages committee recommended easing restrictions on e-commerce delivery, introducing a comprehensive specific tax system and reassessing mandatory Radio-Frequency Identification tag requirements for whisky.

Following publication, the ECCK white paper is submitted through the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency’s Foreign Investment Ombudsman for review by relevant Korean government ministries and institutions. It is also shared with key European stakeholders, including the European Commission, the European Free Trade Association and the U.K. government.

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