Landrush Latin character registration opens for '.kr' domain

The National Internet Development Agency of South Korea (NIDA) has opened registration for second-level '.kr' domain names in Latin characters to any applicant eligible to register a '.kr' domain name.

Registrations in Latin characters directly under '.kr' domain opened on September 18 2006. Previously, only registrations in Korean were possible at this level. Until November 20 2006 only government entities were eligible to register these second-level '.kr' domain names (see South Korea to open up '.kr'). During a sunrise period running from November 21 2006 until March 27 2007 only registrants that already had a third-level '.kr' domain name were able to apply.

The landrush period that opened on March 28 2007 and will run until April 11 2007 is open to any applicant eligible to register a '.kr' domain name. However, instead of allocating the domain names on a first come first served basis, NIDA will draw lots for domain names for which more than one application is validated during the landrush period. Registrations on a first come first served basis will then begin on April 19 2007.

Eligibility to register a '.kr' domain name is restricted to companies with a local presence in South Korea.

David Taylor, Lovells, Paris