At a glance: South Korea
- FAR designated country: Yes — WTO GPA and Free Trade Agreement country.
- Time difference: 13 to 14 hours ahead of US Eastern time, depending on the season.
- National trade promotion agency: KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency).
- Known internationally for: electronics, batteries and smart-city technology.
- Federal registration: SAM.gov, with an NCAGE code for companies outside the US.
General information, not legal advice. Confirm requirements for your products and contracts with qualified advisers.
US trade agreement status for South Korea
South Korea is listed in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) as both a WTO Government Procurement Agreement country and a Free Trade Agreement country. In federal procurements covered by those agreements, the Trade Agreements Act lets qualifying products from South Korea be treated like US products instead of being disadvantaged under the Buy American Act. Coverage depends on the agency, the type of purchase and the contract value, and products generally qualify when they are made, or substantially transformed, in South Korea.
Separate rules apply to infrastructure projects that state and local governments and utilities fund with federal money: Build America, Buy America (BABA) covers iron, steel, manufactured products and construction materials used in those projects, with waivers in limited cases. Our guide to how international companies sell to US government explains both rules.
The US public sector opportunity
Companies from South Korea are known internationally for electronics, batteries and smart-city technology, categories that US agencies and utilities buy. The US public sector is a market of many separate buyers: the U.S. Census Bureau counted 91,438 local governments in 2025, alongside 50 states, federal agencies and thousands of electric, water and gas utilities. Each buys on its own budget calendar, which means a focused outbound approach can reach the right buyers without a national launch.
See selling to US utilities from abroad for how utilities buy.
What to prepare before entering the US
- A first segment. One or two buyer types where your product is strongest, such as water utilities, public safety agencies or school districts.
- A domestic-content position. Confirm which of your products qualify as made in South Korea for covered federal procurements, and how you will meet BABA where federally funded projects require it.
- Registrations. SAM.gov with an NCAGE code for federal work, plus state and local vendor registrations; see our list of state procurement portals.
- US-ready product and support. US standards and certifications for your category, pricing in US dollars and service in US time zones.
- A buying path. Direct sales, a US reseller or distributor, a cooperative contract held by a partner, or a US prime contractor.
KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency), South Korea's national trade promotion agency, can also help with export support and introductions.
Working across time zones
South Korea is 13 to 14 hours ahead of US Eastern time, depending on the season. There is little or no overlap with the US working day, so an outreach team working US hours matters: US agencies and utilities expect calls during their business day.
How KSG helps companies from South Korea
Kensington Sales Group helps international companies enter the US public sector in three stages: a Landing Pad to validate demand, a Beachhead with an embedded SDR team that books qualified meetings, and an Expansion stage that hands a working sales motion to your own US team. See our US market entry service.
Our work with international companies includes market research with more than 1,000 water agencies for Kamstrup and utility outreach that produced 70 qualified meetings for Siemens.
Sources: FAR 25.003 definitions, including designated countries; SAM.gov Quick Start Guide for International Registrations; U.S. Census Bureau, Government Organization Summary Report.