Terms of Use
CHATPER 1 General Provision
- Article 1 Purpose
-
The purpose of this Terms of Use is to prescribe the matters related to the condition of use and the procedure of the services provided by the "buyKOREA" website(www.buykorea.org), a B2B e-marketplace operated by KOTRA.
- Article 2 (Notification and Revision)
-
- 1. This Terms of Use is displayed on the Internet site(www.buykorea.org) where services as explained in Article 3(“Services”) are offered to “Members”(refers to the “Buyer” who obtains membership as described in Article 5 below and the “Seller” who uses the “buyKOREA for Seller(www.buykorea.or.kr)”) and the other people who will use the services.
- 2. This Terms of Use prescribes general information on the Service Use Agreement made between KOTRA and Members. KOTRA may amend the Terms and notify the amended Terms to Members if necessary.
- 3. When KOTRA wishes to amend the Terms, KOTRA shall specify and notify the effective date of the amended Terms of Use and the cause of such amendment from seven to one day before the effective date.
- 4. By agreeing to this Terms of Use, Members shall comply with this Terms of Use and the Site Use Policy displayed to the Members by KOTRA.
- Article 3 (Types of Services)
-
KOTRA offers the following Services:
- 1. e-Marketplace: This service provides online marketplaces that allow e-commerce including offer, negotiation, contract, payment made between Members through the Internet website (www.buykorea.org) operated by KOTRA.
- 2. Other information services: These services indicate the Internet services such as information service and e-mail service provided for Members through the Internet website (www.buykorea.org) except for sales purchase related services.
CHAPTER 2 Application and Termination
- Article 4 (Principle of Use Agreement)
-
- 1. To make a service contract(“Use Agreement”) between the Buyer and KOTRA, the Buyer shall enter the user information into the prescribed form set by KOTRA and agree to this Terms of Use.
- 2. Only the Buyer who is permitted to use the Internet website (www.buykorea.org) by the KOTRA manager is entitled to obtain membership and use Services to prevent any disputes that may arise in business relations between Members.
- Article 5 (Application)
-
The applicant who wishes to use Services shall enter the following information in accordance with the membership application form provided by KOTRA online.
- 1. Essential Information : ID(Email), Password, Name, Telephone Number, Company name, Company CEO name, Company Address, Number of Employees, Annual Sales, Products of Interest(HS CODE).
- 2. Optional Information: Job Position, Mobile, Fax, Company Homepage Address, Year of Company Establishment, Company Business Type, Company Introduction.
- Article 6 (Acceptance of Application)
-
- 1. When the applicant enters the information specified in Section 1 of Article 5 and agree to this Terms of Use, the KOTRA manager shall check the information entered and may accept the application.
- 2. If KOTRA cannot identify whether the information entered by an applicant is true, KOTRA may request the applicant to submit more information and evidence thereto.
- 3. The applicant who is accepted by KOTRA manager obtains membership as a member of buyKOREA and can use the Services.
- 4. The applicant who has been issued with an ID shall assume the legal responsibility for compliance with any contracts made and payments required.
- Article 7 (Rejection and Suspension of Application)
-
- KOTRA may reject the application for the following cases
- [Example]
-
- 1) The name entered into the prescribed form is not right or false.
- 2) The information entered is false.
- 3) The application is illegal or unreasonable.
- 2. KOTRA may suspend the application. At the time of such suspension, KOTRA shall notify the cause of the suspension, period of time allowed to submit any additional information requested by KOTRA, or additional information or evidence needed for acceptance of the application through e-mail or other methods.
- KOTRA may reject the application for the following cases
- Article 8 (Termination of Use Agreement)
-
- 1. Termination by Buyer
- 1) Buyer may terminate the Use Agreement by notifying his/her intention to terminate the Use Agreement to KOTRA. The Use Agreement is terminated when KOTRA identifies the intention of the termination.
- 2) Buyer shall complete, withdraw from, or cancel all ongoing contracts or purchase procedures before the intention of the termination is notified to KOTRA. The disadvantages caused by withdrawing from or canceling the ongoing contracts or purchase procedures shall be a burden to be borne by the Buyer.
- 3) A Buyer who terminates the Use Agreement may re-apply for buyKOREA after the termination in accordance with the application procedure specified in the Terms of Use.
- 2. Termination by KOTRA
- 1) KOTRA may terminate the Use Agreement without any notice in the following cases:
- ① A Buyer violates the regulation set by KOTRA when the Member transacts business with another Member.
- ② A Buyer has business relations or attempts to do business by violating this Terms of Use or the regulation set by buyKOREA.
- ③ A Buyer infringes the right of KOTRA or Members, defames their reputation, impairs their credit, or otherwise disadvantages them.
- ④ A Buyer disturbs or attempts to disturb buyKOREA.
- ⑤ A Buyer forces business transactions via negotiation, contract, and order even if the Member does not intend to trade in products.
- ⑥ A Buyer distributes contents against public morals or public order.
- ⑦ A Buyer defames other Member's reputation or disadvantages other Members.
- ⑧ A Buyer sends a large amount of unsolicited information or spam to disturb the stable operation of Services.
- ⑨ A Buyer distributes computer virus programs that cause malfunction of information communication facilities or provide incorrect information.
- ⑩ A Buyer infringes intellectual property right of KOTRA, other Members, or the 3rd party. For examples:
- A Buyer illegally uses the personal information such as user ID and password of other Members.
- A Buyer posts obscene materials on the bulletin board or links to obscene sites.
- A Buyer violates other agreements or related laws.
- 2) KOTRA may give an opportunity for the Buyer to express his/her opinion about the reason for termination before or after the termination.
- 3) The damages caused by the termination of the Use Agreement shall be a burden borne by the Buyer whose membership is expired by the termination.
- 1) KOTRA may terminate the Use Agreement without any notice in the following cases:
- 1. Termination by Buyer
CHAPTER 3 Protection and Provision of Personal Information
- Article 9 (Collection of Personal Information)
-
- 1. KOTRA may collect the minimum information required for implementing purchase contracts. The information specified in Section 1 of Article 5 shall be essentially included, and other information shall be optional.
- 2. The personal information provided by KOTRA shall be used only for prompt and safe transactions, and shall not be used for other purposes. However, if the corresponding Member allows using the information for other purposes, the information may be used.
- Article 10 (Offer and Share of Personal Information)
-
- 1. KOTRA may use personal information(except for the information displayed on the Internet website(www.buykorea.org) such as user ID, name, etc.) in other online sites directly operated by KOTRA for the following purpose of the collection; use, seamless service, and service expansion, which are mentioned when the information is collected, and shall not use the information for other purposes. However, if the data subject allows use of his/her the information, the information may be used.
- 2. KOTRA may expose Buyer information in the buyKOREA for Seller(www.buykorea.or.kr) when the Buyer registers the 'Buying Offer' on buyKOREA(www.buykorea.org).
- 3. KOTRA shall not provide personal information collected to a 3rd party without the permission of the data subject except in the following cases:
- 1) When the personal information is required for delivering products, the necessary information(name, address, phone number, etc.) is provided to the carrier.
- 2) When law allows the use of the information of a Member or a 3rd party.
- 3) When the personal information is required for seamless transactions between Members.
- 4) When the personal information is required for 'after sales service' after the transaction ends.
- 4. Seller's phone number may be displayed on the product information screen.
- 5. The information of a Buyer is provided to the counterpart for product Q&A and negotiation.
- Article 11 (Protection of Personal information)
-
- 1. Buyer always can view or change his/her information.
- 2. KOTRA shall make every effort to protect personal information, and a Member shall take proper measures to protect his/her information.
- Article 12 (Storage of Personal information)
-
- 1. When the Use Agreement with a Buyer is terminated, KOTRA shall stop collecting, using, providing the corresponding personal information and destroy such information immediately. However, personal information shall be retained in the following cases:
- 1) KOTRA shall retain personal information for a certain time period set by the related laws such as commercial law and customer protection law in e-commerce.
- 2) Even if the Use Agreement is expired, KOTRA may retain the information such as user ID, user name, phone number, address, and trade history for a certain time period for further management for a Member who has trade history.
- 3) KOTRA may retain personal data and the information relating to past transactions for a certain time period after the expiration or termination of Use Agreement to prevent any Member who has trade history attempting to disturb or restrict the Services by intentionally evading this Terms of Use.
- 4) KOTRA may retain some information(such as user ID, user name, phone number, address, and the information related to the termination of the Use Agreement and membership suspension) for a certain time period after the expiration or termination of Use Agreement to check if there is any cause to reject any re-application in the case where KOTRA terminates the Use Agreement or a Member's membership is suspended.
- 1. When the Use Agreement with a Buyer is terminated, KOTRA shall stop collecting, using, providing the corresponding personal information and destroy such information immediately. However, personal information shall be retained in the following cases:
- Article 13 (Change and Management of Personal Information)
-
- 1. When the Buyer's information is incorrect, Buyer may correct such information by him/herself or KOTRA may request to correct such information to the Buyer immediately. If the information is determined as incorrect information, KOTRA may suspend the Services until the information is properly changed.
- 2. Buyer shall be responsible for the damages caused by failing to correct his/her information where such information had changed. KOTRA shall not assume the responsibility for such damages.
- 3. Buyer is responsible for managing his/her personal information such as user ID and password.
- 4. Buyer shall not transfer or lend his/her user ID and password to a 3rd party.
- 5. If personal information is thieved or used by a 3rd party, the Buyer shall notify the information leakage to KOTRA immediately after it comes to his/her knowledge, and follow the actions taken by KOTRA to manage and protect the personal information.
CHAPTER 4 Disclaimer
- Article 14 (Limitation of Liability)
-
- 1. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Services provided by KOTRA on or through the Internet site(www.buykorea.org) are provided "as is", "as available" and “with all faults”, and KOTRA hereby expressly disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to, any warranties of condition, quality, durability, performance, accuracy, reliability, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. A such warranties, representations, conditions, and undertakings are hereby excluded.
- 2. To the maximum extent permitted by law, KOTRA makes no representations or warranties about the validity, accuracy, correctness, reliability, quality, stability, completeness or currentness of any information provided on or through the Internet website; KOTRA does not represent or warrant that the manufacture, importation, export, distribution, offer, display, purchase, sale and/or use of products or services offered or displayed on the sites does not violate any 3rd party rights; and KOTRA makes no representations or warranties of any kind concerning any product or service offered or displayed on the sites.
- 3. Any material downloaded or otherwise obtained through the Internet Site(www.buykorea.org) or Services is done at each Member's sole discretion and risk and each Member is solely responsible for any damage to its own or to KOTRA's computer system(s) or any loss of data that may result from the download of any such material. No advice or information, whether oral or written, obtained by any Member from KOTRA or through or from the Internet website (www.buykorea.org) shall create any warranty not expressly stated herein.
- 4. The Internet website (www.buykorea.org) may make available to “Services” or products provided by independent 3rd parties. No warranty or representation is made with regard to such services or products. In no event shall KOTRA be held liable for any such services or products.
- 5. Each Member hereby agrees to indemnify and save KOTRA, directors, officers and employees harmless, from any and all losses, claims, liabilities (including legal costs on a full indemnity basis) which may arise from such Member's access to or use of the Internet Site(www.buykorea.org) or Services (including but not limited to the display of such Member's information on the Internet Site) or from Member's breach of any of the terms and conditions of the Terms of Use. Each Member hereby further agrees to indemnify and save KOTRA, directors, officers and employees harmless, from any and all losses, damages, claims, liabilities (including legal costs on a full indemnity basis) which may arise from Member's breach of any representations and warranties made by Member to KOTRA.
- 6. Each Member hereby further agrees to indemnify and save KOTRA, directors, officers and employees harmless, from any and all losses, damages, claims, liabilities (including legal costs on a full indemnity basis) which may arise, directly or indirectly, as a result of any claims asserted by 3rd Party Rights claimants or other 3rd parties relating to products offered or displayed on the Internet Site. Each Member hereby further agrees that KOTRA is not responsible and shall have no liability to Members, for any material posted by others, including defamatory, offensive or illicit material and that the risk of damages from such material rests entirely with each Member. KOTRA reserves the right, at own expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by Member, in which event Member shall cooperate with KOTRA in asserting any available defenses.
- 7. KOTRA shall not be liable for any special, direct, indirect, punitive, incidental or consequential damages or any damages whatsoever (including but not limited to damages for loss of profits or savings, business interruption, loss of information), whether in contract, negligence, tort, equity or otherwise or any other damages resulting from any of the following:
- 1) the use or the inability to use the Internet Site(www.buykorea.org) or Services.
- 2) any defect in goods, samples, data, information or services purchased or obtained from a Member or any other 3rd party through the Internet Site(www.buykorea.org) or Services.
- 3) violation of 3rd Party Rights or claims or demands that Member's manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution, offer, display, purchase, sale and/or use of products or services offered or displayed on the Internet website (www.buykorea.org) or through the Services may violate or may be asserted to violate 3rd Party Rights; or claims by any party that they are entitled to defense or indemnification in relation to assertions of rights, demands or claims by 3rd Party Rights claimants.
- 4) unauthorized access by 3rd parties to data or private information of any Member.
- 5) acquisition of information not provided by KOTRA or on the Internet Site(www.buykorea.org)
- 6) statements or conduct of any Member of the Internet Site(www.buykorea.org) or Services; or;
- 7) any matters relating to the Internet Site(www.buykorea.org) or Services, however arising, including negligence.
- Article 15 (Force Majeure)
-
Under no circumstances shall KOTRA be held liable for any delay or failure or disruption of the content or the Services accessed or delivered through the Sites resulting directly or indirectly from acts of nature, forces or causes beyond KOTRA's reasonable control, including without limitation, Internet failures, computer, telecommunications or any other equipment failures, electrical power failures, strikes, labor disputes, riots, insurrections, civil disturbances, shortages of labor or materials, fires, flood, storms, explosions, acts of God, war, governmental actions, orders of domestic or foreign courts or tribunals or non-performance of 3rd parties.
CHAPTER 5 Miscellaneous
- Article 16 (Related Law and Jurisdiction)
-
- 1. Any dispute which may arise between KOTRA and a member in relation to Services and this Terms of Use shall be governed by the law of Republic of Korea. All the law suits related with this dispute shall be exclusively brought in the courts of Republic of Korea, which has jurisdiction of the Code of Civil Procedure of Republic of Korea.
- 2. Any dispute which may arise between members in relation to transactions shall be governed by the law and court set forth in the agreement made during transaction, and KOTRA shall not assume the responsibility for the dispute.
- [Appendix] This Terms of Use Agreement shall take effect from May 22, 2006.
- [Appendix] This Terms of Use Agreement shall take effect from November 08, 2012.
- [Appendix] This Terms of Use Agreement shall take effect from September 07, 2016.
- [Appendix] This Terms of Use Agreement shall take effect from March 10, 2019.
- [Appendix] This Terms of Use Agreement shall take effect from July 7, 2020.
- [Appendix] This Terms of Use Agreement shall take effect from September 29, 2021.