Paperless trade system of the Republic of Korea: an analysis of the UNIPASS and uTradeHub single windows

Over the last two decades, the concept of the single window for foreign trade has become an increasingly important item on the global trade facilitation agenda. Asia is home to some of the world’s most advanced single windows, and the Republic of Korea is among the pioneers in the transition towards a paperless trade environment. This document presents the history and main features of its dual system, composed of two interconnected single windows: UNIPASS and uTradeHub. The experience in the Republic of Korea may be useful for policymakers in Latin America and the Caribbean, where single windows are generally at a much earlier stage of development. Of particular interest is the inclusion in UNIPASS and uTradeHub of several functionalities aimed at internationalizing micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises, including by facilitating their participation in e-commerce.