Today, I’m noticing changes related to corporate and institutional systems. There’s also a matter with a deadline for submitting comments that’s coming up within ten days, so I’ve organized that first.
Today's Key Points (3 Lines) > - Lifelong educators will be required to complete continuing education. The parent law will take effect on December 3, 2026, and the legislative notice for the implementing regulations is until October 27, 2026. > - Even acquiring a company solely for its workforce (Acqui-hire) can be subject to corporate combination reporting. The deadline for submitting comments on the Korea Fair Trade Commission’s administrative notice is September 30, 2026. > - 95 companies have been certified as Best HRD (Human Resources Development) institutions. Certified companies will be exempt from regular labor inspections for three years.
## 1. Mandatory Continuing Education for Lifelong Educators — Legislative Notice for Implementing Regulations
- What’s changing? — With the amendment of the Lifelong Education Act (Law No. 21721, promulgated on June 2, 2026), a clause regarding continuing education for lifelong educators has been added, and a draft of the implementing regulations that delegate matters to be specified in the Ministry of Education’s regulations has been released. Article 8-2 of the draft specifies the targets and exemption criteria for continuing education, and Article 8-3 provides the basis for designating entrusted institutions. Entrusted institutions include the National Lifelong Education Promotion Institute, provincial and city lifelong education promotion institutes, and other institutions and organizations that professionally conduct lifelong education activities.
- Who does it affect? — Individuals holding a lifelong educator qualification, and lifelong education institutions and promotion institutes that employ lifelong educators.
- When does it take effect? — The parent law takes effect on December 3, 2026. The period for submitting comments on the legislative notice for the implementing regulations is from September 17 to October 27, 2026. The specific frequency and duration of continuing education have not yet been finalized, so ⚠️ please refer to the original document.
- Administrative Agent’s Comment: — A key point that will likely be debated in practice is whether individuals with qualifications but not working in the field are eligible for exemption. If an institution employs lifelong educators, it would be beneficial to organize the acquisition date of qualifications and employment history for each employee now, so that identifying education targets after the December implementation will be easier. If there are any objections to the criteria, comments can be submitted by October 27.
- Source: [National Participatory Legislation Center · Legislative Notice for Partial Amendment of the Lifelong Education Act Implementing Regulations](https://opinion.lawmaking.go.kr/gcom/ogLmPp/88552)
## 2. Even Acquiring a Company Solely for its Workforce (Acqui-hire) is Subject to Corporate Combination Reporting — Administrative Notice Deadline: September 30
- What’s changing? — The Korea Fair Trade Commission administratively announced an amendment to the “Rules for Reporting Corporate Combinations” on September 9, 2026. It explicitly states that if organized personnel and the knowledge and skills those personnel possess combine to perform the core functions of a business, those personnel are also included in “business” subject to reporting. In judging the ‘major portion’ of the business, a case has been added where the acquiring company can conduct the same business activities as the selling company. The economic consideration paid to the selling company (including compensation for relinquishing personnel-related rights, license fees for intellectual property rights, etc.) regardless of its nominal value is included in the acquisition amount.
- Who does it affect? — Companies considering transactions that involve acquiring core personnel and technology licenses without transferring equity or assets.
- When does it take effect? — The deadline for submitting comments on the administrative notice is September 30, 2026. The amended rules will take effect immediately upon promulgation, and will apply to corporate combinations that arise after the effective date.
- Administrative Agent’s Comment: — The assertion that “it’s not subject to reporting because we didn’t transfer stock or assets” is no longer safe. If you have ongoing personnel transfer deals, please review the structure of the contract and how the payment consideration is categorized. If you have any objections to the criteria, submit them by September 30.
- Source: [Law Times · Administrative Notice for Amendment of Rules for Reporting Corporate Combinations](https://www.lawtimes.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=226488)
## 3. Recognition of 95 Best HRD Organizations — 3-Year Exemption from Regular Labor Inspections
- What’s changing? — On September 17th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Industrial Manpower Public Training Service Agency held an award ceremony and recognized 95 companies as Best HRD Organizations. The three companies with the highest scores in each category were selected as top organizations. This year’s evaluation included participation in AI training, utilization of online training (STEP LMS), and investment in a “work-first, study-later” program.
- Who is affected? — Companies with a talent development system encompassing recruitment, evaluation, compensation, education, and career development.
- When will it take effect? — Recognized companies will be exempt from regular labor inspections for three years and will receive additional points when applying for various government support and subsidies. The schedule for the next round of applications is not yet available ⚠️ Please refer to the original document.
- Administrative Agent’s Comment: — The real benefit lies not in the certificate itself, but in the “3-year exemption from regular labor inspections” and the “points for subsidies.” This is not a review based on a single document; it requires accumulated records of training and linked evaluation data. If you are considering applying next year, it would be best to start saving training records from the second half of this year.
- Source: [Policy Briefing · Ministry of Employment and Labor Recognizes 95 Best HRD Companies](https://www.korea.kr/briefing/pressReleaseView.do?newsId=156782171)
## 4. Establishment of Basis for Trust Management of Lease Deposit — Amendment of Enforcement Decree of the Housing and City Corporation Act Announced for Public Comment
- What’s changing? — The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has announced an amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Housing and City Corporation Act for public comment. Because the Housing and City Guarantee Public Corporation’s work has been limited to guarantees, fund reviews, and execution, it has been difficult to handle tasks related to deposit guarantees for trust arrangements. This has been revised to add the management and operation of deposits received from tenants to the Corporation’s work. The scope of personal identification information processing for verifying landlords and tenants when entrusting and managing deposits is also being expanded (Article 22(2)(4) and Article 26(2)(8)).
- Who is affected? — Tenants and landlords utilizing a lease deposit trust structure, and related personnel.
- When will it take effect? — The deadline for submitting comments is from September 17, 2026, to October 12, 2026. The effective date has not been finalized ⚠️ Please refer to the original document.
- Administrative Agent’s Comment: — This is still in the stage of establishing the basis, so there is no immediate creation of an application channel. However, if the Corporation directly entrusts and manages deposits, it will provide another option to prepare for lease accidents. If your lease agreement is not far off, it would be worthwhile to keep an eye on the implementation date.
- Source: [National Participation in Legislation Center · Announcement for Public Comment on Amendment of Enforcement Decree of the Housing and City Corporation Act](https://opinion.lawmaking.go.kr/gcom/ogLmPp/88676)
## 5. (Follow-up) Amendment of Enforcement Decree for ISMS-P Certification Review Including On-site Inspection and Penetration Testing Announced for Public Comment
- What’s changing? — On September 16th, the Personal Information Protection Commission announced that it has announced an amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Personal Information Protection Act, allowing for both written and on-site reviews in ISMS-P certification reviews, and allowing qualified technical personnel to conduct vulnerability assessments and penetration testing on-site in the event of a security breach or personal information leak during the certification validity period. This applies to subsequent reviews conducted annually, and establishes a basis for applying differentiated certification standards based on processing scale and impact. If a mandatory ISMS-P certification recipient receives a cancellation order, a one-year suspension of the fine will be granted, but this suspension will not apply if the cancellation is due to false or fraudulent methods.
- Who is affected? — Companies and organizations subject to mandatory ISMS-P certification, and companies maintaining certification.
- When will it take effect? — The deadline for submitting comments for the public comment period is October 26th ⚠️ Please refer to the original document.
- Administrative Agent’s Comment: — The revised Personal Information Protection Act, which came into effect on September 11th, sets the implementation date for ISMS-P mandatory certification as July 1, 2027. This amendment concerns the review process, so if you are a target company, it is safer to check not only the submitted documents but also the actual configuration and status of measures.
- Source: [Electronic Times · ISMS-P Certification Review to be Strengthened… Personal Information Protection Commission Announces Amendment for Public Comment](https://www.etnews.com/20260916000224)
## Deadlines to Watch This Week
- September 30th — Submission of comments on the Fair Trade Commission’s “Guidelines for Reporting Business Combinations”
- October 12th — Submission of comments on the amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Housing and City Corporation Act
- October 26th — Submission of comments on the amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Personal Information Protection Act (ISMS-P Review) ⚠️
- October 27th — Submission of comments on the amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Lifelong Education Act
*This briefing is prepared by Hwang Yun-sang Administrative Agent Office based on publicly available information. Individual applicability may require verification with the relevant authority.*