The tracker · South Korea
The leading Asian attempt at a binding due diligence statute, repeatedly introduced and still in committee.
Bill reintroduced in June 2025 remains in committee, with no progress recorded in 2026; business opposition remains the main obstacle.
In plain language
Korean legislators have repeatedly introduced bills that would require large companies to conduct human rights and environmental due diligence across their supply chains, with civil liability and administrative enforcement modelled on European precedents while adapting to Korean corporate structures.
The bills have not advanced past committee, with business associations arguing for voluntary approaches and alignment with eventual international consensus. The entry matters for this tracker because Korea would be the first Asian jurisdiction with a binding horizontal due diligence law, changing the regional conversation entirely.
Obligations
Covered companies would identify, prevent and mitigate human rights and environmental risks across supply chains.
The drafted text combines civil liability with administrative fines and public procurement consequences.
Timeline
First supply chain due diligence bill introduced in the National Assembly.
Broader HREDD bill introduced with civil society backing.
Representative Jung Tae-ho reintroduced the bill; a competing bill proposes higher company thresholds.
Committee deliberations continue with no recorded progress.
Changelog
Timeline updated with the June 2025 reintroduction; no committee progress found in 2026.
Committee status and stakeholder positions updated.