Korea’s Domain Name Management Rules (the “Rules”) have been amended to introduce exceptions to the general requirement that registrants of <.kr> domain names be domiciled in Korea.

As of July 1, 2026, even foreign rights holders without a Korean address can request the transfer of a disputed <.kr> domain name if the transfer results from (i) an IDRC decision, (ii) a court judgment, or (iii) an arbitral decision.

Prior to the amendment, foreign rights holders without a Korean address could only seek the cancellation of a disputed domain name registration. If the foreign rights holder wanted to register the domain name, they had to have a local agent register and hold the <.kr> domain name on their behalf. However, this approach was not only impractical, it carried the risk of a third party registering the domain name before the Korean agent was able to complete the registration process.

The amendment addresses these concerns and enhances the effectiveness of Korea’s domain name dispute resolution framework.