KOFIA is the sole self-regulatory organization (SRO) of the Korean financial investment industry, overseeing a wide spectrum of industry areas. KOFIA believes that self-regulation should be responsive, flexible and market-friendly. To effectively carry out its roles and functions as an SRO, KOFIA maintains the Self-Regulation Committee (SRC), which makes decisions on regulatory enactments and revisions, enforces compliance with regulations among member firms and individuals and other self-regulatory activities.

• KOFIA's main areas of self-regulation are:
  1. 1) Enacting regulations and codes of best practices for fair business activities
  2. 2) Reviewing standard agreements and advertisements
  3. 3) Conducting inspections of members
  4. 4) Registering and administering qualification exams for financial professionals
  5. 5) Mediating disputes between member companies and their customer

1. 1. KOFIA establishes business conduct regulations for member companies on sales and other common business activities, as well as securities underwriting. The association also sets various guidelines, such as standard rules for investment advice and standard internal control criteria for financial investment firms.
2. 2. To ensure investor protection, KOFIA conducts preliminary reviews on advertisements of financial investment products and the business activities of financial investment firms. It also reviews terms and conditions, and sets standard agreements to support investment firms’ business activities.
3. 3. KOFIA conducts member inspections and imposes sanctions for regulatory violations.
4. 4. Financial professionals must receive accreditation by passing qualification exams, completing training, and registering with the association to conduct business activities such as investment solicitation and advice on financial instruments. KOFIA manages both the registration and the qualification exams.
5. 5. To safeguard investor interests, KOFIA runs an investor protection center to arbitrate disputes.