For Singapore-based companies engaged in cross-border trade with South Korea, few situations are more frustrating than a Korean business partner who refuses to pay, breaches a contract, or simply goes silent after receiving your goods or services. 

You may assume that pursuing the matter legally in Korea is too costly, too slow, or too foreign to be worth the effort. This assumption is costing Singapore businesses real money and it is exactly what defaulting Korean companies rely on.

There is a direct and enforceable legal path available to you: arbitration through the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB). 

Law Firm Jeonglaw represents foreign companies and foreign nationals in KCAB proceedings, helping you recover what you are owed in Korea, under Korean law, with results that hold.

The Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB) is South Korea's primary institution for resolving commercial disputes through arbitration. Founded in 1966 and headquartered in Seoul, KCAB administers both domestic and international arbitration under rules specifically designed to handle cross-border disputes efficiently and fairly. For Singapore companies with a contractual claim against a Korean business, KCAB offers several critical advantages over litigation in Korean courts.

First, KCAB arbitration is enforceable. Korea is a signatory to the 1958 New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, meaning that a KCAB arbitral award can be enforced not only against Korean assets within Korea, but also in Singapore and over 160 other countries worldwide  without relitigating your case from scratch. This is a fundamental advantage for Singapore claimants who need real, cross-border enforcement power.

Second, KCAB proceedings under the International Arbitration Rules are designed with foreign parties in mind. Arbitrators can be appointed from international panels, hearings can be conducted in English, and remote participation is fully supported  eliminating the need for constant travel to Seoul. The proceedings are confidential, which protects your business relationships and sensitive commercial information throughout the process.

Third, KCAB arbitration is substantially faster than Korean court litigation. While a court case in Korea can take three to five years across multiple levels of appeal, KCAB arbitration typically concludes within 12 to 18 months from the filing of the request. For businesses facing cash flow pressure from unpaid receivables, speed is not a luxury  it is essential.

• Enforceable in 160+ countries under the New York Convention
• English-language proceedings available with international arbitrators
• Remote participation fully supported — no need to fly to Seoul
• Confidential proceedings protecting your commercial interests
• Typical resolution within 12–18 months from filing

Understanding that KCAB arbitration is available is one thing. Successfully navigating it as a foreign company  drafting a compliant request for arbitration, building your evidentiary case under Korean legal standards, managing correspondence in Korean, and ultimately enforcing the award  requires Korean legal expertise that your Singapore counsel alone cannot provide.

Law Firm Jeongro is a Seoul-based law firm with dedicated experience in representing foreign clients  both foreign companies and foreign nationals residing in Korea  in commercial disputes against Korean businesses. We provide end-to-end legal support across the full KCAB arbitration lifecycle, and we communicate directly in English throughout.

Our approach to KCAB cases for Singapore clients follows a clear, structured process designed to maximize your chances of a favorable award and successful enforcement: