§ 02 — Comparison

Compare regulatory pathways side-by-side

Benchmark MAHMAH, GMPGMP, HTAHTA and pathway requirements across up to three markets.

Country A

Country B

Country C

Highlight differences

Criterion	🇰🇷South Korea	🇪🇺European Union
Authority & dossier
Regulatory authority	MFDS	EMA
English submissions	Yes	Yes
CTD accepted	Yes	Yes
eCTD accepted	Yes	Yes
Reliance pathway	None	Available
Reference agencies	FDA, EMA, MHRA, PMDA +3	—
Lead pathway (timeline & fees) — New Drug Application — Standard Review · Centralised Procedure
Pathway name	New Drug Application — Standard Review	Centralised Procedure
Approval timeline	365–480 days	210–277 days
Application fee	KRW 8,500,000	EUR 358,800
Annual renewal	KRW 1,500,000	EUR 122,500
Local representative	Required	Required
Local manufacturing	Not required	Not required
GMP inspection	Required	Required
MAH & local presence
Local entity required	Yes	Yes
Local responsible person	Yes	Yes
RP role	Qualified Person for Safety Management (안전관리책임자): Korea-resident pharmacist responsible for pharmacovigilance and post-marketing safety obligations. A separate Quality Manager is required for manufacturing/import licences.	Qualified Person Responsible for Pharmacovigilance (QPPV) — must reside and operate in the EU/EEA — is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the pharmacovigilance system. A Qualified Person (QP) in the EU/EEA performs batch certification under Article 51 of Directive 2001/83/EC. Local Contact Person for pharmacovigilance required in each Member State where the product is marketed (since 2012 GVP).
Accelerated pathways
Designations available	5 designations	6 designations
Examples	Global Innovative Products on Fast Track (GIFT), Priority Review, Conditional Approval +2	Accelerated Assessment, Conditional Marketing Authorisation, Authorisation under Exceptional Circumstances +3
Post-approval lifecycle
Variations framework	MFDS classifies post-approval changes as Major, Moderate, and Minor variations, broadly aligned with EU classification. Annual report categories also exist for the smallest changes.	Commission Regulation (EC) 1234/2008 establishes four categories: Type IA (minor — Do and Tell, 12-month notification), Type IAIN (minor — immediate notification), Type IB (minor — Tell, Wait, and Do, 30-day default), Type II (major — prior approval, 60–90 days), and Extensions (Annex I changes — full review). Worksharing procedures consolidate variations across multiple authorisations.
Renewal cycle	Marketing authorisations require renewal every 5 years. Renewal application must be submitted 6 months before expiry. Re-examination period (재심사기간) of 4–6 years applies to new drugs requiring active safety monitoring with full re-evaluation.	Initial 5-year renewal — application 9 months before expiry. After the first renewal, MA is granted for unlimited duration unless the CHMP/NCA, on justified grounds relating to pharmacovigilance, decides on one additional 5-year renewal.
Pharmacovigilance	Korea Adverse Event Reporting System (KAERS) administered by the Korea Institute of Drug Safety and Risk Management (KIDS). PSURs aligned with ICH E2C(R2). MAH must appoint a Qualified Person for Safety Management and maintain a pharmacovigilance system.	Comprehensive PV framework under Directive 2010/84/EU and Regulation (EU) 1235/2010, codified in Good Pharmacovigilance Practices (GVP). Pharmacovigilance System Master File (PSMF) required. Periodic Safety Update Reports (PSURs) on EU-harmonised birth-date list. Risk Management Plans for all new MAs and significant variations. Suspected serious ADR reporting to EudraVigilance within 15 days. Black triangle (▼) for additional monitoring of selected products.
Unlicensed access
Named Patient Supply	Available	Available
Compassionate Use	Available	Available
Emergency Import	Available	Available
Parallel Import	Not permitted	Permitted
Clinical trials
CTA approval	Required	Required
Ethics approval	Yes	Yes
CTA timeline	30–60 days	60–106 days
GCP standard	Korean GCP (KGCP, ICH E6(R3) aligned)	ICH E6(R3) — Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2748 transposing R3, applicable from 23 July 2025
Pricing & reimbursement
Price regulation	Regulated	Regulated
Reference pricing	Yes	Yes
HTA required	Yes	Yes
HTA body	Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) — Pharmaceutical Benefits Coverage Assessment Committee	EU HTA Coordination Group (EUnetHTA legacy); national HTA bodies (NICE, HAS, G-BA/IQWiG, AIFA, AEMPS, etc.)

Verdict colours indicate lower, moderate, or higher regulatory burden — they're not value judgements on a market.

Authority & dossier

Regulatory authority

South KoreaMFDS
European UnionEMA

English submissions

South KoreaYes
European UnionYes

CTD accepted

South KoreaYes
European UnionYes

eCTD accepted

South KoreaYes
European UnionYes

Reliance pathway

South KoreaNone
European UnionAvailable

Reference agencies

South KoreaFDA, EMA, MHRA, PMDA +3
European Union—

Lead pathway (timeline & fees) — New Drug Application — Standard Review · Centralised Procedure

Pathway name

South KoreaNew Drug Application — Standard Review
European UnionCentralised Procedure

Approval timeline

South Korea365–480 days
European Union210–277 days

Application fee

South KoreaKRW 8,500,000
European UnionEUR 358,800

Annual renewal

South KoreaKRW 1,500,000
European UnionEUR 122,500

Local representative

South KoreaRequired
European UnionRequired

Local manufacturing

South KoreaNot required
European UnionNot required

GMP inspection

South KoreaRequired
European UnionRequired

MAH & local presence

Local entity required

South KoreaYes
European UnionYes

Local responsible person

South KoreaYes
European UnionYes

RP role

South KoreaQualified Person for Safety Management (안전관리책임자): Korea-resident pharmacist responsible for pharmacovigilance and post-marketing safety obligations. A separate Quality Manager is required for manufacturing/import licences.
European UnionQualified Person Responsible for Pharmacovigilance (QPPV) — must reside and operate in the EU/EEA — is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the pharmacovigilance system. A Qualified Person (QP) in the EU/EEA performs batch certification under Article 51 of Directive 2001/83/EC. Local Contact Person for pharmacovigilance required in each Member State where the product is marketed (since 2012 GVP).

Accelerated pathways

Designations available

South Korea5 designations
European Union6 designations

Examples

South KoreaGlobal Innovative Products on Fast Track (GIFT), Priority Review, Conditional Approval +2
European UnionAccelerated Assessment, Conditional Marketing Authorisation, Authorisation under Exceptional Circumstances +3

Post-approval lifecycle

Variations framework

South KoreaMFDS classifies post-approval changes as Major, Moderate, and Minor variations, broadly aligned with EU classification. Annual report categories also exist for the smallest changes.
European UnionCommission Regulation (EC) 1234/2008 establishes four categories: Type IA (minor — Do and Tell, 12-month notification), Type IAIN (minor — immediate notification), Type IB (minor — Tell, Wait, and Do, 30-day default), Type II (major — prior approval, 60–90 days), and Extensions (Annex I changes — full review). Worksharing procedures consolidate variations across multiple authorisations.

Renewal cycle

South KoreaMarketing authorisations require renewal every 5 years. Renewal application must be submitted 6 months before expiry. Re-examination period (재심사기간) of 4–6 years applies to new drugs requiring active safety monitoring with full re-evaluation.
European UnionInitial 5-year renewal — application 9 months before expiry. After the first renewal, MA is granted for unlimited duration unless the CHMP/NCA, on justified grounds relating to pharmacovigilance, decides on one additional 5-year renewal.

Pharmacovigilance

South KoreaKorea Adverse Event Reporting System (KAERS) administered by the Korea Institute of Drug Safety and Risk Management (KIDS). PSURs aligned with ICH E2C(R2). MAH must appoint a Qualified Person for Safety Management and maintain a pharmacovigilance system.
European UnionComprehensive PV framework under Directive 2010/84/EU and Regulation (EU) 1235/2010, codified in Good Pharmacovigilance Practices (GVP). Pharmacovigilance System Master File (PSMF) required. Periodic Safety Update Reports (PSURs) on EU-harmonised birth-date list. Risk Management Plans for all new MAs and significant variations. Suspected serious ADR reporting to EudraVigilance within 15 days. Black triangle (▼) for additional monitoring of selected products.

Unlicensed access

Named Patient Supply

South KoreaAvailable
European UnionAvailable

Compassionate Use

South KoreaAvailable
European UnionAvailable

Emergency Import

South KoreaAvailable
European UnionAvailable

Parallel Import

South KoreaNot permitted
European UnionPermitted

Clinical trials

CTA approval

South KoreaRequired
European UnionRequired

Ethics approval

South KoreaYes
European UnionYes

CTA timeline

South Korea30–60 days
European Union60–106 days

GCP standard

South KoreaKorean GCP (KGCP, ICH E6(R3) aligned)
European UnionICH E6(R3) — Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2748 transposing R3, applicable from 23 July 2025

Pricing & reimbursement

Price regulation

South KoreaRegulated
European UnionRegulated

Reference pricing

South KoreaYes
European UnionYes

HTA required

South KoreaYes
European UnionYes

HTA body

South KoreaHealth Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) — Pharmaceutical Benefits Coverage Assessment Committee
European UnionEU HTA Coordination Group (EUnetHTA legacy); national HTA bodies (NICE, HAS, G-BA/IQWiG, AIFA, AEMPS, etc.)