Interior ministry to let agencies check four company certificates directly

South Korea's interior ministry said Monday it will add four types of corporate certification to the government's shared administrative data system by December, sparing companies from obtaining and filing the same documents each time they bid for public contracts or apply for state support.

The ministry said it is working to link startup, mid-sized company, women-owned company and disabled-owned company certificates into the system, and plans to complete the revision of the notice listing shared administrative information by December. Government agencies and public institutions will then be able to apply for access to the four certificates and check them directly rather than collecting them from companies. The certificates are routinely demanded in public procurement and in applications for research and development grants and policy funding.

Hwang Kyu-cheol, who heads the ministry's artificial intelligence government office, said the change "opens a way to resolve the inconvenience of companies having to obtain and submit the same documents every time they participate in public bidding or government projects."

"After the notice revision, we will actively support shared use by the relevant institutions and continue to identify other documents that companies frequently submit, expanding shared use so that administration can become document-free," he added.

A total of 181 administrative information items are currently available through the shared system, including business registration certificates, tax payment certificates, small and medium enterprise certificates and venture company certificates.

When the paperwork actually disappears will vary by institution. The notice revision establishes the legal basis; individual agencies must then apply to the ministry for shared use of the certificates for the tasks that require them and receive approval before the exemption applies.