Eligibility and Procedures for Private Entities Using the Customs Trade Data Center Released

Direct access to the Customs Trade Data Center by general private corporations is restricted in principle. However, access is granted to those qualifying as 'designated users under customs laws' or 'partner entities conducting joint research under a formal contract'. This is because the primary purpose of the Data Center is to support national policy formulation, academic research, and the promotion of public interest. Therefore, if your company participates as a joint research partner with an authorized institution—such as a government-funded research institute—for projects involving trade policy development, industrial trend analysis, or import/export pattern studies, you may utilize the center's extensive data. Individual data inquiries for purely commercial purposes are not permitted; the relevance to public interest research is a critical factor.

Primary Institutional Users and Data Applications

The Customs Trade Data Center is predominantly used by public and research institutions, including members of the National Assembly, central government agencies, local governments, and government-funded research institutes. These organizations utilize macro-level data—such as import/export statistics, trade trends by item, and trade volumes by country—which are essential for establishing national economic and industrial policies. For instance, the Korea Customs Service's vast trade data is used to draft policies for protecting or fostering specific industries, analyzing the effects of FTAs, establishing response strategies for global supply chain changes, and developing regional economic revitalization plans. This data serves as an objective basis for verifying policy effectiveness and forecasting future trends.

Preliminary Consultation for Access

Initial consultations for using the Customs Trade Data Center can be initiated via email at customsdata@korea.kr. During the consultation, it is important to provide specific details, including the proposal for joint research, the requested data scope (e.g., HS codes, duration, countries), the purpose of data utilization, and the expected outcomes. For private companies, the proposal must include a description of the collaborating institution and explain how the research aligns with public interest. This information serves as the fundamental basis for the Data Center to evaluate the feasibility of access and the appropriateness of providing the requested data.

Standard Operating Procedures

The overall procedure for using the Customs Trade Data Center is as follows:

• Preliminary Consultation: Discussions are held via email regarding eligibility, the scope of data provision, and the suitability of the research purpose.
• Application Submission: Once eligibility is confirmed, the applicant submits an official application along with a detailed research plan, a data utilization plan, and a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Final approval is determined through a review by the Data Center's Steering or Review Committee.
• On-site Utilization: Upon approval, data analysis is conducted within the designated secure facility at the Data Center. All data is provided in a strictly anonymized format to protect the trade secrets of individuals and companies. Work is performed in an independent environment disconnected from the external internet, and the removal of raw data is strictly prohibited.
• Export of Analysis Results (If Required): Statistics, graphs, and reports derived from the analysis may only be exported in aggregated and summarized formats that pose no risk of raw data leakage. These results must undergo a security review prior to removal.
• Conclusion and Data Disposal: Once the research objective is met or the usage period expires, all work files and temporary data generated within the center are securely deleted in accordance with security protocols.

Conclusion for Private Entities

The Customs Trade Data Center plays a pivotal role in creating policy and academic value through in-depth analysis of trade trends. For a general corporation, the most practical way to utilize this data is to seek collaborative research opportunities with public or research institutions. This approach can provide your company with significant synergies, such as identifying new business opportunities, predicting market trends, and strengthening alignment with government policies. Understanding the strict security protocols and presenting a clear research goal tied to public value are the keys to successful data utilization.