Court temporarily suspends 2-year bidding ban on LIG D&A

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) imposed the ban after LIG Defense & Acquisition (LIG D&A) representatives were indicted on charges of bribing a DAPA official during weapons procurement tenders.

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White Cheongung missile displayed beside military launcher vehicles on a wet outdoor lot.
LIG Defense & Aerospace's medium-range surface-to-air missile, the Cheongung, is on display at the Agency for Defense Development in 2020.

LIG Defense & Aerospace (LIG D&A) said on Tuesday that a court has temporarily suspended a two-year ban on its participation in defense procurement bids imposed by Korea’s arms procurement agency.

Last month, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) imposed the ban after LIG D&A representatives were indicted on charges of bribing a DAPA official during weapons procurement tenders. The ban was due to take effect on Thursday.

LIG D&A said in a regulatory filing that the court had suspended the ban until Nov. 20, allowing the company to continue bidding for defense contracts.

A formal hearing is scheduled for Nov. 5 to review the company’s request for a longer suspension. The court will then decide whether to keep the ban suspended, pending the outcome of the company’s lawsuit challenging the sanction.

“If the court grants the request, LIG D&A will be able to continue bidding for defense contracts until a ruling is issued on its lawsuit seeking to overturn the ban,” the company said, adding that it will continue to present its case through formal legal proceedings.


Yonhap