The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AmCham Korea) announced on the 29th that it has published the '2026 Domestic Business Environment Insight Report,' which outlines policy agenda items for improving Korea's investment environment and strengthening industrial competitiveness.

This annual report presents policy directions necessary for Korea to maintain its competitiveness as a regional headquarters and innovation hub amidst intensifying competition for investment attraction among nations due to global supply chain restructuring, deepening competition in advanced industries, and the spread of artificial intelligence (AI).

AmCham Publishes 2026 Domestic Business Environment Insight Report [Photo courtesy of AmCham]

AmCham emphasized that regulatory transparency, predictability, and alignment with global standards are key factors for attracting investment and achieving sustainable growth.

Furthermore, in line with the 2026 United States Trade Representative (USTR) 'National Trade Estimate Report (NTE)' and the Korea-U.S. joint fact sheet, the need to resolve non-tariff barriers and enhance regulatory alignment was reaffirmed.

It also suggested the need to strengthen the foundation for global capital inflow by improving labor market flexibility, enhancing legal and institutional predictability, and reforming the financial market system.

This year's report addresses 75 key regulatory issues across a total of 11 industry sectors, an increase of 9 issues compared to the previous year.

Among these, regulatory improvement agendas were concentrated in sectors such as financial services (13), automotive (10), chemicals (10), pharmaceuticals (8), and the digital economy (7).

James Kim, Chairman and CEO of AmCham Korea, stated, "For Korea to maintain its competitiveness going forward, ensuring regulatory predictability and alignment with global standards is of paramount importance," adding, "We will closely cooperate with the Korean government to resolve unnecessary regulatory gaps and contribute to creating a business environment that is more transparent, predictable, and compliant with global standards."