Diagnostic X-ray machines are among the items now exempt from stringent pre-export licensing, according to a ministry statement

The South Korean government has decided to lift sanctions on the supply of medical equipment to Russia, according to the country’s ministry of trade.

In a statement published on its official website on Monday, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE) said the move aligns South Korea's export controls with global standards and strengthens measures against unauthorized exports.

”An exceptional approval process will be applied to the export of medical equipment to Russia,” the ministry stated, noting the measure will take effort on February 28.

The statement indicated that the pre-export licensing requirement for medical equipment has been partially lifted, allowing for a “simplified document submission process,” which is expected to reduce the administrative burden for companies exporting such equipment as diagnostic X-ray machines, radiation imaging devices, and so on.

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According to the ministry, the decision “considers ongoing concerns” raised by the industry about the “low military-use potential” of medical devices and their “humanitarian significance.”

It further claimed that while the newly designated strategic goods require a standard export license, some exports to Russia and Belarus will still require “case-by-case review under international trade law.”

Seoul joined its Western counterparts in February 2022, slapping financial sanctions and export controls on Russia and Belarus in response to the Ukraine conflict and targeting sectors such as finance and technology.

South Korea placed special restrictions on strategic items such as semiconductors, computers, sensors and lasers, and marine and aerospace equipment. Some industry observers, however, expressed concerns that certain goods may have been rerouted to Russia through neighboring countries.