South Korea Extends Export Exemption for Arms Spare Parts to Five Years

The government will extend a five-year exemption for local firms seeking approval in exporting spare parts of an arms product starting next month, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration said Wednesday. The agency said the Cabinet on Tuesday approved a revision to an enforcement decree aimed at speeding up the logistics support process for overseas buyers.

Currently, the agency exempts companies from obtaining export approval for two years when a spare part of an arms product is exported to the same end user, often for maintenance purposes. The revision will extend the exemption period from the current two to five years, paving the way for the swift supply of components needed for maintenance or repair of homegrown weapons systems exported abroad, the agency said.

In addition, the agency also pushed for the revision of a separate enforcement decree aimed at ensuring the agency approves the technology transfer agreement within one month, down from the current two months. The revised enforcement decrees will take effect July 1.