• Korea Trade Review
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.163-180
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which smart contracts can be applied to the software export business and to find out the legislative issues to activate smart contracts. A smart contract is a computer program that automatically executes a contract when conditions are fulfilled. Smart contracts can play a pivotal role in the field that requires immediate execution of contract or in a highly standardized field with multiple parties involved. In the software export business, it is desirable to apply the smart contract partially rather than applying the smart contract to the entire process because various parties are involved and the process is very complicated. The business model of exporting packaged software, a completed software that is mainly licensed for use, rather than the business model of exporting customized software is suitable for using smart contracts because the project for implementing customized software is mainly focused in the development stage. When smart contracts are used in processes such as contract signing, payment, and project management, work efficiency can be increased. In addition, smart contracts can be used when conditions can be quantified, such as error penalties, in areas that previously required contracts with third parties such as banks, guarantors. In order for smart contracts to be actively used in practice, legal reviews on various issues are necessary including the legality of a smart contract and the validity as an electronic document of NFT (non-fungible token) certificate. Also, for the system stability preventing hacking, etc, the periodic verification or inspection by a third party is essential. To activate smart contracts in international transactions the international treaty regarding smart contracts is also necessary.