How Do Schools and Universities Buy Humanoid Equipment?
Goods with an estimated price of KRW 20 million or less can be bought through a private (negotiated) contract with a single quotation, and above that the quotation method depends on the counterparty and the amount. The fiscal year for schools and national universities starts in March and the budget proposal is drawn up in January, so prepare quotations in the autumn and winter before. Based on the original text of the laws.
Small amounts can be bought through a private contract with a single quotation, and the larger the amount, the more quotation methods and steps are involved. Also, the fiscal year of schools and national universities starts in March and the budget proposal is drawn up in January, so for next school year's equipment it is better to prepare quotations and specifications in the autumn and winter before.
What follows was compiled on 2026-09-21 from the original text of the laws at the Korea Law Information Center and from the official guidance of the Public Procurement Service and Schooljangteo. Each institution also has its own internal rules, so always confirm the actual purchasing method with the institution's contract officer.
Which law does our institution follow?
Public elementary, middle and high schools follow the Local Contract Act, and national universities follow the National Contract Act.
| Institution | Contract law that applies |
|---|---|
| Public elementary, middle and high schools (under city and provincial offices of education) | Act on Contracts to Which a Local Government Is a Party (Local Contract Act) and its Enforcement Decree; check the office of education's rules for how it applies to an individual school |
| National universities | Act on Contracts to Which the State Is a Party (National Contract Act) and its Enforcement Decree; incorporated national universities should check their own regulations |
| Private schools and universities | Private school institution finance and accounting rules and the school foundation's own regulations; check each school's rules for amount thresholds |
Up to what amount is a private contract allowed?
For goods with an estimated price of KRW 20 million or less, a private contract is allowed with any counterparty. The Local Contract Act (public schools) and the National Contract Act (national universities) are the same on this.
Above KRW 20 million, it depends on what kind of company the counterparty is. Both enforcement decrees are as of [in force 2026-06-03] Presidential Decree No. 36338.
| Estimated price | When a private contract is possible |
|---|---|
| KRW 20 million or less | Possible regardless of the counterparty |
| Over KRW 20 million, up to KRW 50 million | When the counterparty is a young founder enterprise (representative aged 39 or under, within 7 years of founding) |
| Over KRW 20 million, up to KRW 100 million | When the counterparty is a small enterprise or microenterprise, when special knowledge or technology such as academic research is required, or when it is a women-owned or disabled-owned enterprise, etc. |
Basis: Local Contract Act Enforcement Decree Article 25(1)(5) and National Contract Act Enforcement Decree Article 26(1)(5). The definition of a young founder enterprise is in Article 2 of the Support for Small and Medium Enterprise Start-ups Act [in force 2026-07-01].
The amount thresholds change when the laws are amended. And whether a private contract is possible and whether the institution will actually use one are separate matters. This table is the range the laws allow, and the final decision is made by the institution's contract officer.
How many quotations do you need?
The rule is two or more, and for small amounts one is enough.
- Rule: obtain quotations from two or more parties. Under the Local Contract Act, you must then use a designated information processing device (an electronic contract system designated and announced by the Minister of the Interior and Safety) (Local Contract Act Enforcement Decree Article 30)
- A single quotation is allowed: for an estimated price of KRW 20 million or less. When contracting with women-owned or disabled-owned enterprises, etc., or, under the Local Contract Act, with a young founder enterprise, up to KRW 50 million
- National Contract Act: for a private contract over KRW 20 million (over KRW 50 million for women-owned enterprises, etc.), submit the quotation through the electronic procurement system (National Contract Act Enforcement Decree Article 30)
- Disclosure: under the Local Contract Act, when a private contract is concluded, its contents are made public (Enforcement Decree Article 31)
When should the budget be set?
The fiscal year of schools and national universities starts on 1 March, and the budget proposal is submitted 30 to 40 days before that.
| Institution | Fiscal year | Budget proposal submission | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| National and public elementary, middle and high schools | 1 March to end of February the next year | Up to 30 days before the fiscal year starts, to the school steering committee | Elementary and Secondary Education Act Article 30-3 [in force 2026-09-11] |
| National universities (university accounts) | 1 March to end of February the next year | Up to 40 days before the fiscal year starts, to the finance committee | Act on the Establishment of Accounts and Financial Management of National Universities Article 14 [in force 2026-01-02] |
| Private school foundations | Follows the school year of the schools they establish | Report the budget to the competent authority and publish it before the fiscal year starts | Private School Act Articles 30 and 31 [in force 2026-05-12] |
Because the budget proposal is drawn up in January, equipment for the next school year is easier to include in the budget if the quotation and specifications are ready in the autumn to December of the previous year. This schedule is counted backward from the dates in the laws, so check the institution's actual budget schedule with the responsible department.
What are Schooljangteo (S2B) and Narajangteo?
Both are electronic channels through which public institutions buy goods.
- Schooljangteo (S2B): an electronic procurement channel used by schools and others, operated by The-K Korean Teachers' Credit Union (customer center 1577-3309)
- Narajangteo: the Public Procurement Service's Korea ON-line E-Procurement System (the government e-procurement system). Suppliers register for bid participation eligibility, and goods for public procurement receive a goods identification number per model (government procurement call center 1588-0800)
Which channel to use is set by the institution's rules and the amount, so it is easiest to ask the contract officer first.
What goes into a quotation?
To be comparable, it must state not only the price but also what is included.
- Institution name, item, model name, quantity
- Unit price, and whether VAT is included
- Delivery date
- Whether installation is included, and its scope
- Whether training (teacher and teaching assistant training, etc.) is included, and its scope
- Technical support and warranty period
For humanoid practice equipment, check how far the quotation covers not only the robot body but also guidance on the simulation practice environment, training and technical support. Prices vary with the institution's configuration and are given by quotation.
Frequently asked questions
If it exceeds KRW 20 million, can I split the purchase?
The law has a separate provision on "split private contracts" (Local Contract Act Enforcement Decree Article 28). We do not recommend splitting a purchase to avoid an amount threshold; for large amounts, first settle a lawful contract method with the contract officer.
Does the estimated price include VAT?
Confirm how the estimated price is calculated with the institution's contract officer. The amounts in this post are the threshold amounts written in the provisions of the laws.
Do private universities follow the same thresholds?
Private schools follow the private school institution finance and accounting rules and the school foundation's own regulations. Check each school's rules for amount thresholds.
When is a good time to request a quotation?
To include it in next school year's budget, it is better to have the quotation and specifications in hand in the autumn to December, before the budget proposal is drawn up in January. Check the actual schedule against the institution's responsible department.
Next step
Once you have confirmed the process, the next thing is the quotation. Tell us the model, quantity, and the scope of installation and training, and we will prepare a quotation to fit your institution's procurement process.
If you have not yet chosen the model to put on the quotation request, you can first see the criteria by course purpose in Booster K1 or T2: which fits school and university labs?.
Sources (checked 2026-09-21): Korea Law Information Center: Enforcement Decree of the Act on Contracts to Which a Local Government Is a Party and Enforcement Decree of the Act on Contracts to Which the State Is a Party [in force 2026-06-03], Support for Small and Medium Enterprise Start-ups Act [in force 2026-07-01], Elementary and Secondary Education Act [in force 2026-09-11], Act on the Establishment of Accounts and Financial Management of National Universities [in force 2026-01-02], Private School Act [in force 2026-05-12] / Public Procurement Service website / Schooljangteo (S2B) operator information. If the laws are amended, the standards in this post change too. Confirm the actual purchasing method with the institution's contract officer.