Courts accepted 31 of 39 injunction requests filed by companies this year to suspend Fair Trade Commission (FTC, South Korea’s competition regulator) actions, a 79.5% rate. Eighteen requests were granted in full and 13 in part, while two were rejected and six remained undecided. An injunction temporarily halts an FTC action while a main lawsuit determines its legality; granting one does not mean the court has found the regulator’s decision unlawful. The acceptance rate rose from 64.5% in 2024 to 73.5% last year and 79.5% this year, while the rejection rate declined from 32.3% to 23.5% and then 5.1%. Companies are increasingly challenging investigative measures, including document demands and on-site inspections. The Seoul High Court suspended Hanwha’s document-submission order until Jan. 31 next year but rejected Coupang’s request to halt an inspection. FTC Chairman Joo Byung-ki criticized the Hanwha ruling, while Korea University law professor Lee Hwang warned that disputes over investigative powers and methods could burden both sides before any violation is established.