The internship program was organized by the Korea Fair Trade Commission as part of its Technical Assistance initiatives aimed at strengthening the capacity of foreign competition authorities and promoting international cooperation in competition law enforcement.

The internship program was held in the Republic of Korea from 23 October to 4 November 2023. The primary sessions, including lectures, presentations, and institutional briefings, were conducted at the headquarters of the KFTC in Sejong City. The program also included field visits and exposure sessions in Seoul. .

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) was represented by:

• Mr. Shahzad Hussain, Director General (Advocacy & Legal)

• Regulation of abuse of market dominance, including exploitative and exclusionary practices, supported by case discussions such as Google’s exclusive dealing in the Android app store market, Korea Vaccine’s output control in the tuberculosis vaccine market, and Microsoft’s tying of Windows Media Player and Messenger with the Windows operating system.
• Cartel regulation and investigation techniques, including the legal framework under MRFTA and investigative tools such as leniency programs, informant reward systems, digital forensic analysis, and the Bid-Rigging Indicator Analysis System (BRIAS) used for detecting collusive behavior in public procurement.
• Examination of major cartel enforcement cases, including the Car Carrier Cartel involving market allocation in international vehicle shipping and the Shipping Liners Cargo Cartel, where shipping companies colluded on freight rates and surcharges over an extended period.
• Merger control regulations and review procedures, including notification thresholds, simplified and regular merger review processes, and analytical criteria used by KFTC to assess whether a merger substantially restricts competition.
• Discussion on emerging competition challenges in digital markets, including the conduct of dominant digital platforms and the need for adaptive regulatory approaches to address unfair practices and maintain competitive market structures.

The participating institutions included, Authority for Fair Competition and Consumer Protection (AFCCP), Mongolia, Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK), Kenya, Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK), Kenya, Competition Commission (VCC), Vietnam, College of Law, Gyeongsang National University, Republic of Korea (Resource Person) .

• Improved understanding of the enforcement framework and investigative practices of the KFTC, particularly in cartel enforcement and market investigations.
• KFTC’s Bid-Rigging Indicator Analysis System (BRIAS) demonstrated how data-driven systems can assist in identifying potential bid-rigging and collusive practices in public procurement.
• The KFTC experience highlighted that well-designed leniency regimes significantly enhance cartel detection by encouraging whistleblowing and cooperation from cartel participants.
• Insights into emerging competition challenges in digital markets and the regulatory approaches adopted by advanced competition authorities.
• Enhanced awareness of modern investigative tools and analytical methods used in competition law enforcement, including interim measures and commitment mechanisms.
• Discussions emphasized the need for competition authorities to closely monitor dominant digital platforms and potential anti-competitive practices such as self-preferencing, tying, and discriminatory access.
• Strengthened professional linkages with international competition authorities, supporting future cooperation and knowledge exchange.