Foreign Companies Try to End Domestic Discrimination

Foreign companies are trying to abolish the 'invisible discrimination' against them in Korea. Thirty-four multinational pharmaceutical companies that have business operations in Korea recently established a new association, which admits only foreign companies, named KRPIA to extend and protect their interests.
They launched the association because they feel that the Korea Pharmaceutical Company Association (KPCA) is largely focused on the interests and positions of domestic Korean pharmaceutical companies. It is often pointed out that the KPCA does not reflect the interests and opinions of foreign pharceutical companies.
An official from a multinational pharmaceutical company explained that foreign pharmaceutical companies have made various efforts to end the discriminatory practices on imported medicines, including a new pricing policy and fewer restrictions on importing new products into Korea, but their efforts have failed.
The association for imported car companies recently decided not to attend the biennial motor show held by the Association of Auto Industries (AAI), because the AAI requested that imported car companies pay more than twice the fee that Korean car companies pay.
Jangsoo Seo:jsbee@Joongang.co.kr