• Korea Trade Review
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.159-184
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• 2017

OECD MNE Guidelines ('OECD Guidelines') was set forth in 1976 as a form of annex to the OECD Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises. The objective of the OECD Guidelines is to fulfill the implementation and adoption of the Responsible Business Conduct ('RBC') among the adhering states. To further the effectiveness of the OECD Guidelines, OECD, specifically the Investment Committee of OECD, has utilized National Contact Point ('NCP') structure. According to the Procedural Guidance annexed to the OECD Guidelines, peer learning is prescribed as an important tool for promoting and facilitating the implementation procedures of the OECD Guidelines. This paper, inter alia, is mainly focusing on the peer review mechanism applicable to NCPs because negative assessments by peers are likely to harm Korea's state image and entail international criticisms even though such reviews are conducted voluntarily. In addition, the Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct ('WPRBC') decided to have a peer review of Korean NCP in 2019. This paper first outlines the meaning and current applications of the peer review mechanism, and then analyzes specific peer review cases conducted in Denmark and Belgium in 2015, and in 2016, respectively. Lastly, based on the issues handled in the peer review reports on the above states, this paper makes a few recommendations for Korean government to prepare the peer review scheduled in 2019.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.179-198
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• 2017

The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (The Guidelines) was initially promulgated in 1976 as a form of annex to the OECD Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises. The Guidelines aims at accomplishing the implementation and dissemination of the Responsible Business Conduct. The latest version of The Guidelines, as revised in 2011, directed 47 adhering countries to The Guidelines to set up their respective National Contact Points (NCPs). NCPs are The Guidelines' dispute resolution mechanism for specific instances arising from breach by multinational enterprises of The Guidelines. Korea to date has its own NCP performing its role to offer good offices and facilitates settlement between the parties to the specific instances regarding The Guidelines. However, there has been strong criticism from NGOs and civil society that Korea NCP has not performed well due to lack of transparency and impartiality, especially in the context of the governance of Korea NCP. Under this circumstance, this paper ⅰ) examines current status and problems of Korea NCP, ⅱ) evaluates the core criteria for function and governance of NCPs through a comparative overseas cases study, and ⅲ) suggests improvement plans for Korea NCP.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.67
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• pp.143-162
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• 2015

Russia has a huge amount of energy resources. It is an attractive factor to countries which spend loads of energy. Republic of Korea is also one of large energy consumption countries. Therefore, It will be needed to raise energy cooperation with Russia. It's companies will increase trade focusing on the energy industry in the long term. Recently, However, Foreign companies should be careful when they enter the rapidly changing Russia market. In other words, companies will need a strategic approach to prepare the early case assessment and how to solve a possible dispute as they analyze cost and profit in business. This study is analyzing several dispute cases related in Russia. It presents some strategies for Korean companies such as dispute resolution method, arbitration institution selection method and so on. In addition, it proposes the introduction of the early case assessment for reducing a waste of time and cost. Furthermore, according as the importance of OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises is highlighted in international community, companies should prepare practical division to establish a system of responsible business conduct. Finally, they will have to get an advice and counseling from the Russia legal experts in the early stages of the contract.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.75
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• pp.199-224
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• 2017

As Multi-National Enterprises expanded their investments to foreign countries, numerous controversies and disputes arose from their negative impacts, such as violations of human rights and damage to the environment of the host countries. In response, International Organizations such as the OECD have considered various ways to prevent these negative impacts and search for more efficient dispute resolution methods. It is recognized that the OECD Guideline is one of the tools they created for this purpose. The OECD Guideline is contrastable from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives which are regarded as a corporation's charity activities apart from their core business functions. However, Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) like the OECD Guideline can be understood as a concept moving forward from CSR, due to its requirements that corporations carry out their duties in a responsible manner within the field of their core business, such as tax, global supply chain or consumer protection. RBC which is binding in nature, has even been implemented through legislation in developed countries such as the USA, France, Switzerland, and the UK. The discussion in Korea, however, has not reached that level. Discussions for legislation center singularly on CSR efforts, with a dialogue only recently forming around the topic of legislation concerning RBC. Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) who lack certain financial and other resources to adequately develop RBC initiatives may find this more obstacles to implementation through legislated RBC, than if it were presented in Korea through other means. It's necessary to admit that RBC is a critical issue in international business. However, time is required to consider its application directly to SMEs.