Approaching the weekend, several pre-announcements of legislation have been released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Among them, some have a short opinion submission period of only five days, so I’ve placed those at the front.
Key Points in 3 Lines > - The application period for the exception allowing postponement of the actual residence obligation when purchasing a house with a tenant in a land transaction permit area is extended to December 31, 2027. The opinion submission deadline is September 23. > - If the pedal override prevention device is confirmed to be safe, tuning approval and inspection will be exempt, and installation costs can be supported within the budget. The law will take effect on December 17. > - The Supreme Court upheld the original verdict that did not consider a dispute between elementary school first graders as school violence.
## 1. Extension of Application Period for Suspension of Real Estate Transaction Permit Area Residency Obligation to December 31, 2027
- What's Changing — An amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Real Estate Transaction Reporting Act has been announced for public comment. Currently, if you are renting out or have a leasehold right established on a property, you must apply for a permit by December 31, 2026, to postpone the residency obligation until the end of the initial lease term. The amendment expands the scope to include all properties currently being rented out as of October 1st and extends the application period from October 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027. It also recognizes renewals of the lease agreement once (up to 2 years) within the application period.
- Who It Affects — Households without housing who are trying to purchase a property within a real estate transaction permit area where a tenant resides, and property owners who are trying to sell such a property.
- When — Public comments are accepted from September 18, 2026, to September 23, 2026. Renewals are only recognized if the renewal contract is entered into before the permit application and the contract has already commenced. Effective date: ⚠️ Refer to the original document.
- Administrative Agent's Note — The recognition of one renewal is limited to cases where the renewal contract was entered into before the permit application; otherwise, it may not apply. If you are preparing a sale, it is advisable to first compare the commencement date of the lease agreement with the planned permit application date.
- Source: [National Participatory Legislation Center · Announcement of Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Reporting of Real Estate Transactions](https://opinion.lawmaking.go.kr/gcom/ogLmPp/88786)
## 2. Exemption from Tuning Approval and Inspection, Installation Cost Support for Pedal Misoperation Prevention Devices — Announcement of Amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Motor Vehicle Management Act
- What's Changing — This is an amendment to the Enforcement Rules, which specifies the details of the revised Motor Vehicle Management Act (Law No. 21817). The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will exempt "Tuning Safety Confirmation Devices" that have been verified for safety from tuning approval and inspection, and will establish new procedures for the device’s scope, standards, application, and certificate issuance. Individuals who install a pedal misoperation prevention device will receive support for the device and installation costs within the budget. Changing the type of vehicle, such as converting a passenger car into a bus or truck, is also permitted within the allowable range for vehicles made with the same body and chassis.
- Who It Affects — Elderly drivers and their families, manufacturers and installers of pedal misoperation prevention devices, and vehicle owners considering type conversion tuning.
- When — The parent law takes effect on December 17, 2026. Public comments on the Enforcement Rules are accepted from September 18, 2026, to October 28, 2026. Support amount and eligible age: ⚠️ Refer to the original document.
- Administrative Agent's Note — Because the cost support is "within the scope of the budget," the annual limits and application order will likely be critical. If you are planning to install a device on your parents' vehicle, we recommend checking the eligibility requirements before applying, after the announcement by local governments and agencies following the December implementation.
- Source: [National Participatory Legislation Center · Announcement of Amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Motor Vehicle Management Act](https://opinion.lawmaking.go.kr/gcom/ogLmPp/88704)
## 3. Determining School Violence for Elementary School First Graders — Supreme Court: "Consider Circumstances, Relationships, and Degree"
- What's Changed — In a case where an elementary school first-grade student pushed a classmate off a stage, causing injury, the School Violence Countermeasures Committee designated it as school violence and imposed a written apology measure, but the Administrative Arbitration Committee revoked it. The district court ruled it as school violence in the first instance, while the appellate court ruled otherwise. The Supreme Court upheld the appellate court’s ruling on September 3, 2026 (2026Du30954). The ruling emphasizes that simply having physical injury does not automatically qualify as school violence, and that designating all conflicts between students as school violence could lead to a broad interpretation of school violence.
- Who is Affected — Parents of young children experiencing school violence cases, school and education support office officials.
- Effective Date — September 3, 2026, date of the ruling confirmation.
- Administrative Agent's Note — This ruling clarifies that a conclusion cannot be reached solely based on the fact that someone "got hurt." If you disagree with a measure, be sure to track the dates from when the measure was issued (within 90 days for filing an administrative arbitration claim) and gather supporting documents that demonstrate the circumstances and prior relationship.
- Source: [Law Times · Supreme Court Ruling Regarding Elementary School First-Grade School Violence Determination](https://www.lawtimes.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=226558)
## 4. Mandatory Halal Certification for Indonesian Food and Cosmetics – October 18 – MOFDC Cooperation Agreement
- What's Changed — On September 18, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) signed a halal product certification cooperation agreement with the Indonesian Halal Product Guarantee Agency (BPJPH). This establishes a foundation for domestic certification bodies to receive official recognition in Indonesia and facilitates the exchange of regulations and technical information. The MFDS announced that Indonesia is scheduled to mandate halal certification for food and cosmetics starting October 18.
- Who is Affected — Companies exporting or preparing to export food and cosmetics to Indonesia.
- Effective Date — Indonesian food and cosmetic halal certification mandate scheduled for October 18, 2026. Specific application details and any deferrals require ⚠️ review of the original document.
- Administrative Agent's Note — The agreement is a framework for cooperation and does not immediately mean that our current certifications are directly valid. Companies with export volumes should check with local buyers regarding certification status in anticipation of the mandatory date, which is just a month away.
- Source: [Policy Briefing · MFDS Strengthens Halal Certification Cooperation with Indonesia](https://www.korea.kr/briefing/pressReleaseView.do?newsId=156782413)
## 5. Amendment of Incheon Airport Noise Mitigation Zone Resident Support Ordinance – Research Project Budget of 70 Million Won
- What's Changed — The Incheon City Council passed an amendment to the “Incheon City Ordinance on Supporting Residents in Airport Noise Mitigation Zones” on September 18 at a plenary session. A budget of 70 million won for a research project on resident support programs was included in the supplementary budget finalized on the same day. The city plans to use the research to develop customized support programs for affected areas and a continuous monitoring plan.
- Who is Affected — Residents in Incheon Airport’s noise mitigation zones.
- Effective Date — The date of ordinance promulgation and specific support items will be determined based on the research results ⚠️ review of the original document is required.
- Administrative Agent's Note — This is currently the design phase for a support system. If you reside in the area, your residency period and address will likely be verified against the residency records when the support criteria are released, so it would be helpful to keep those records organized.
- Source: [Incheon Ilbo · Amendment of Airport Noise Victim Support Ordinance, Reflection of Research Funds](https://www.incheonilbo.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=1332457)
## Upcoming Deadlines
- September 23 — Deadline for public comments on the amended enforcement ordinance extending the residency restriction period in land transaction permit areas.
- October 12 — Deadline for public comments on the amended enforcement ordinance of the Passenger Motor Vehicle Act (establishing criteria for business suspension and fines for failure to comply with improvement orders for platform mediation service providers).
- October 18 — Scheduled date for mandatory halal certification for Indonesian food and cosmetics.
- October 28 — Deadline for public comments on the amended enforcement regulations of the Motor Vehicle Management Act.
*This briefing is prepared by Hwang Yoon-sang Administrative Agent Office based on publicly available information. The applicability of individual cases requires verification with the relevant authority.*
Hwang Yoon-sang Administrative Agent Office handles administrative litigation, permits, and immigration matters in Songdo, Incheon. Feel free to contact us if you are facing a similar situation.