By Vlad Nadymov Updated 2 min read
KONEPS is where South Korean public organisations buy. The Public Procurement Service (PPS) runs the national e-procurement system, known in Korean as 나라장터 (Nara Jangteo), and most ministries, agencies, local governments and public institutions publish their bids and sign their contracts through it. This guide explains registration, foreign access and the bond rules.
What is KONEPS
KONEPS (Korea ON-line E-Procurement System) is the national e-procurement system at g2b.go.kr. It covers the full cycle: bid notices, bidder registration, electronic bids, contracts and payments. The Public Procurement Service (PPS, 조달청) operates it and is also the central purchasing agency for many goods, services and construction works.
The legal base is the Act on Contracts to which the State is a Party and its Enforcement Decree, the parallel act for local governments, and the Government Procurement Act, which covers the PPS.
How to register on KONEPS
- Prepare the business registration, or the registration documents of the foreign company, and the licences that your items require.
- Obtain a digital certificate that KONEPS accepts. You need it to log in, bid and sign contracts.
- Apply for bidder registration (입찰참가자격 등록) on g2b.go.kr with the company data and the items you supply.
- Keep the registration current; bid notices check it.
PPS has replaced the KONEPS system with a next-generation version. Check the current login and certificate steps on g2b.go.kr before your first bid.
Requirements for government contractors in South Korea (2026)
What a company needs to register, bid and sign a public contract in South Korea. Checked on against the sources at the end of this section.
| Procurement law | Act on Contracts to which the State is a Party and its Enforcement Decree; Act on Contracts to which a Local Government is a Party; Government Procurement Act; WTO Agreement on Government Procurement |
|---|---|
| Regulator | Public Procurement Service (PPS, 조달청) |
| E-procurement portal | KONEPS (나라장터, Korea ON-line E-Procurement System) (www.g2b.go.kr) |
| Supplier registration | Register as a bidder (입찰참가자격 등록) on KONEPS and get a digital certificate accepted by the system. Most public bodies use KONEPS for bids and contracts. |
| Foreign companies | Korea is a party to the WTO GPA: suppliers from GPA parties have access to covered procurements, often as international bids. Foreign companies register on KONEPS as foreign bidders; a local representative helps with the certificate and documents. |
| Bid security | National contracts ask for a bid bond, as a rule at least 5% of the bid price; many notices accept a payment pledge (지급각서) instead. The bid notice states the form. |
| Performance security | As a rule at least 10% of the contract amount, higher for some low-priced construction contracts. |
| Domestic preference | Set-asides and preferences for small and medium enterprises apply below the GPA thresholds; GPA-covered procurement gives national treatment to suppliers of GPA parties. |
| Language | Korean; international bids under the GPA often have English notices. |
| Digital signature | A digital certificate accepted by KONEPS is required to log in and bid. |
| Complaints | Objections go to the contracting official; disputes in international (GPA) bids can go to the International Contract Dispute Mediation Committee. |
Documents to prepare before you bid in South Korea
- Bidder registration on KONEPS (business registration data or the foreign company’s registration)
- Digital certificate accepted by KONEPS
- Licences or registrations that the bid notice requires for the item
- Bid bond or payment pledge, as the notice requires
- Proposal and price documents in the format of the notice
What changed in 2025 and 2026
No change to the contract acts in 2026 was found. PPS replaced the KONEPS system with a next-generation version, so check the current login and certificate steps on g2b.go.kr.
Sources: Public Procurement Service (PPS), English site; KONEPS (나라장터); WTO: Agreement on Government Procurement parties; World Bank GPPD: Republic of Korea profile.
Foreign suppliers and the WTO GPA
Korea is a party to the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement. Suppliers from other GPA parties get national treatment in covered procurements, which PPS and covered bodies often run as international bids with notices in English. Below the GPA thresholds, Korean small and medium enterprises have set-asides and preferences.
A foreign company registers on KONEPS like a Korean one, but the certificate and the documents take time. A local representative or partner helps with both.
Bid and performance bonds
- Bid bond (입찰보증금): as a rule at least 5% of the bid price for national contracts. Many notices accept a payment pledge (지급각서) instead of a cash bond.
- Performance bond (계약보증금): as a rule at least 10% of the contract amount, higher for some low-priced construction contracts.
- The bid notice states the forms and amounts that apply.
Complaints
Raise objections with the contracting official first. Disputes in international bids under the GPA can go to the International Contract Dispute Mediation Committee.
Track Korean tenders with Sell to State
KONEPS publishes mostly in Korean. Sell to State lets you search government tenders in plain English and save the searches you need. Search South Korea tenders, or read the guides for Japan, Taiwan and Singapore.
