Korean Commercial Arbitration Board

What Korean Commercial Arbitration Board does

The Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB) is a quasi-governmental statutory arbitral institution founded in 1966 and operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea. It is the sole institution statutorily empowered to administer international commercial arbitration under the Korean Arbitration Act, with Korea's accession to the 1958 New York Convention (1973) and adoption of the UNCITRAL Model Law (1999) anchoring cross-border enforceability of its awards in 150+ jurisdictions. KCAB International, established as an independent division in April 2018, leads the institution's cross-border mandate and is led from Seoul.

KCAB's product set centers on administered international arbitration and mediation under the KCAB International Arbitration Rules 2026 and the KCAB International Mediation Rules, with an independent International Arbitration Court exercising autonomous oversight over proceedings. The 2026 Rules introduce expedited and fast-track procedures (for disputes up to KRW 4 billion and KRW 500 million respectively), emergency arbitrator provisions, joinder and consolidation mechanics, and technology-enhanced proceedings. Supporting infrastructure includes an online dispute resolution platform for case management and document submission, a published Panel of Arbitrators and Panel of Mediators, professional hearing facilities at the Seoul International Dispute Resolution Center (Seoul IDRC), fundholding services, an annual Seoul ADR Festival, the Korean Arbitration Review publication, and practitioner programs (KCAB Next, Women's Interest Committee). Multi-language rules (7+ languages) and bilingual staff support international users.

The institution earns revenue from transaction-based fees: fixed filing fees (KRW 200,000 to KRW 2,000,000 depending on dispute size), tiered administrative fees capped at KRW 150 million per case, per-arbitrator fees capped at KRW 2 billion per tribunal, fixed emergency arbitrator fees (KRW 20 million plus KRW 5 million administrative), and ancillary hearing and fundholding fees. Distribution is primarily direct filing with the Secretariat in Seoul. Customer segments are horizontal across international commercial parties, Korean exporters and importers engaged in cross-border trade, and foreign companies operating in Korea, with a strategic focus on recapturing Korean disputes that historically flow to foreign venues such as SIAC.

Name

Korean Commercial Arbitration Board

Legal name

Korean Commercial Arbitration Board

Website

https://kcabinternational.or.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Korean Commercial Arbitration Board is a quasi-governmental statutory arbitral institution in Seoul that administers international commercial arbitration and mediation under the Korean Arbitration Act, serving cross-border parties and Korean companies engaged in international trade.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Commercial Arbitration Services

NAICS

Other Legal Services (54119), All Other Legal Services (541199)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

IP Litigation & Dispute Resolution (BPAHAMAE)

Keywords

• International arbitration services
• Commercial dispute resolution
• Mediation services
• Alternative dispute resolution
• Arbitration institution

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Arbitration Administrative Fees: KCAB International charges administrative fees calculated based on the amount in dispute, with a maximum cap of KRW 150,000,000. Fee schedule ranges from 10% for disputes up to KRW 10,000,000 down to 0.0042% for disputes over KRW 200,000,000,000.
2. Filing Fees: Fixed filing fees charged when submitting a Request for Arbitration: KRW 200,000 for disputes up to KRW 50,000,000; KRW 500,000 for disputes between KRW 50,000,001 and 200,000,000; KRW 2,000,000 for disputes over KRW 200,000,000.
3. Arbitrator Fees: Fees paid to arbitrators determined by the Court based on amount in dispute, ranging from minimum KRW 2,200,000 to maximum KRW 597,700,000 per arbitrator depending on dispute value, with overall cap of KRW 2,000,000,000 for tribunal fees.
4. Emergency Arbitrator Proceedings: Administrative fee of KRW 5,000,000 for emergency arbitrator applications, plus fixed emergency arbitrator fees of KRW 20,000,000.
5. Hearing Facilities and Additional Services: Revenue from providing hearing facilities at Seoul IDRC, fundholding services, and other ancillary services supporting arbitration proceedings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

KCAB International administers international commercial arbitration and mediation proceedings for cross-border disputes under the KCAB International Arbitration Rules 2026 and International Mediation Rules. Services include arbitrations with standard, expedited, and fast-track procedures, emergency arbitrator proceedings, mediator-assisted negotiations, and case management through an online dispute resolution platform. Ancillary services include hearing facilities at the Seoul International Dispute Resolution Center (Seoul IDRC) and fundholding services.

Product overview

KCAB International is the international arbitration and dispute resolution division of the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board, established in 2018 as an independent center. The organization offers a comprehensive suite of dispute resolution services anchored by its International Arbitration Rules 2026 and International Mediation Rules, with an independent International Arbitration Court providing institutional oversight. Key services include arbitration proceedings (with standard, expedited, and fast-track options), mediation, panel of arbitrators and mediators, professional hearing facilities at Seoul IDRC, and fundholding services. The organization supports users through Practice Notes, Model Clauses, Fee Calculator tools, and the Korean Arbitration Library. Additional programs include the Seoul ADR Festival (flagship annual event), KCAB Next (young practitioners network), Women's Interest Committee, and an International Advisory Council. Founded in 1966, KCAB is Korea's sole statutorily authorized arbitral institution under the Korean Arbitration Act.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KCAB Next: Platform for younger members of the arbitration community providing networking, learning, and collaboration opportunities among young arbitration practitioners in Korea.
• Women's Interest Committee
• Seoul ADR Festival
• Seoul International Dispute Resolution Center (Seoul IDRC)

Products and services

• International Arbitration Services Provides flexible, efficient, and cost-effective international arbitration for cross-border commercial disputes. Administered under KCAB International Arbitration Rules with options for standard, expedited, and fast-track procedures. For parties engaged in cross-border transactions requiring neutral dispute resolution.
• International Mediation Procedure International mediation services provided under KCAB International Mediation Rules for parties seeking alternative dispute resolution through facilitated negotiation. For commercial parties seeking to resolve disputes outside formal arbitration.
• International Arbitration Court A standing body established January 2026 that exercises independent and autonomous determination on matters requiring decisions under the Rules in connection with arbitral proceedings. Composed of distinguished international arbitration experts. For parties seeking transparent and credible institutional oversight of arbitration proceedings.
• Panel of Arbitrators Roster of qualified arbitrators available for appointment in arbitration proceedings, with application process and code of ethics for arbitrators. For parties requiring experienced arbitrators to resolve commercial disputes.
• Panel of Mediators Roster of qualified mediators available for appointment in mediation proceedings. For parties seeking experienced mediators to facilitate dispute resolution.
• Hearing Facilities Professional hearing rooms at Seoul International Dispute Resolution Center (Seoul IDRC) partnered with KCAB International, including booking services for arbitration hearings. For parties and law firms needing high-quality hearing venues for arbitration proceedings.
• Fundholding Services Additional services for managing and holding funds related to arbitration proceedings. For parties needing neutral third-party custody of disputed funds during arbitration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Awards enforceable in over 150 jurisdictions worldwide
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Milan Chamber of ArbitrationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026Partnership announced to foster closer cooperation between the two arbitration institutions, promoting international dispute resolution services and sharing best practices in arbitration administration.
• Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026Partnership to advance regional ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) cooperation between Korea and Vietnam, strengthening cross-border dispute resolution capabilities in the Southeast Asian region.
• Seoul International Dispute Resolution Center (Seoul IDRC)coreTechnology or IntegrationKCAB International is partnered with Seoul IDRC, which provides excellent hearing facilities for arbitration proceedings, including state-of-the-art conference rooms and technology infrastructure.
• International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint event 'KCAB International & ICSID in Seoul' scheduled for August 2026, providing a platform for discussing investment arbitration topics and fostering cooperation between the institutions.
• Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompetitive relationship - Korean companies are among SIAC's top foreign users with 295 new cases in 2024. KCAB aims to attract these cases back to Korea through enhanced services and transparency.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Court of Arbitration: The ICC Court of Arbitration in Paris administers a global caseload of major international commercial disputes under widely-used ICC Rules. ICC is the highest-profile global incumbent; KCAB's Secretary-General previously served there, underscoring the institutional network.
• International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID): World Bank-hosted institution administering investor-state arbitration under the ICSID Convention. KCAB International has a scheduled joint KCAB-ICSID event in August 2026 and Korean counsel has represented the government in UNCITRAL WG III alongside ICSID reform processes.
• London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA): London-based international arbitration institution with longstanding ties to English law and common-law arbitration tradition. LCIA serves as a benchmark institution alongside ICC and is frequently cited as a default for sophisticated cross-border disputes.
• Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC) Arbitration Institute: Swedish arbitration institution historically associated with East-West trade disputes and a frequent choice for Korea-related commercial matters. SCC is an established international peer with comparable caseload type and seat-based neutrality positioning.

Direct peers

• Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC): Hong Kong-based international arbitration institution administering domestic and international disputes under the HKIAC Administered Arbitration Rules. HKIAC is one of the leading alternatives to KCAB for Northeast Asian and cross-border commercial matters.
• Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA): Japan's leading international and domestic commercial arbitration institution. JCAA is the natural peer for Korea-Japan commercial disputes and a regional competitor for Northeast Asian arbitration market share.
• China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC): China's premier international arbitral institution, headquartered in Beijing with longstanding Chinese government support. CIETAC is the dominant regional peer for any commercial dispute involving Chinese parties, making it a structural competitor for Northeast Asian caseload.
• Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC): Singapore-based international arbitration institution and Asia's most established ADR venue. SIAC is KCAB's primary competitor for Korean cross-border disputes - Korean companies were its largest foreign-user cohort in 2024 with 295 new cases.

Emerging players

• Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC): UAE-based international arbitration institution seeking to expand its share of cross-border disputes, particularly for Asia-Middle East trade. DIAC is at a similar modernization and internationalization stage as KCAB International and serves as a comparable emerging hub.

Regional players

• Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC): Vietnam's principal international arbitration institution with Asia-focused caseload. KCAB and VIAC announced a strategic partnership in May 2026 to advance regional ADR cooperation - VIAC functions as both a peer (arbitration services) and a strategic partner for KCAB.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCtGsr3wtNSY5tLvzh5Pim9Q
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kcabinternational
• Facebookfacebook.com/kcab1966

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Korean Commercial Arbitration Board