It's the Wednesday just before the Chuseok holiday. Yesterday (September 22), several amendment proposals opened for public comment on the same day. From those, we picked two that directly affect how workplaces operate, plus two items on sanctions and enforcement.
Today's key points in 3 lines > 1. A draft enforcement decree amendment raising the unemployment benefit insurance premium rate from 18/1000 to 20/1000 has been pre-announced (comments until November 2). > 2. Employers who have been punished for violating the Labor Standards Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Serious Accidents Punishment Act or the Seafarers Act may be unable to obtain a Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance when inviting foreign nationals. > 3. Lodging and restaurant businesses that don't honor their posted prices face a 5-day business suspension from the first violation, and taxi overcharging brings a 30-day license suspension — both already in effect.
## 1. Unemployment benefit premium rate to rise from 1.8% to 2.0%: legislative pre-announcement (Enforcement Decree of the Employment Insurance Premium Collection Act)
- What changes — The proposal raises the unemployment benefit premium rate under employment insurance from the current 18/1000 (1.8%) to 20/1000 (2.0%) (draft Article 12). The Ministry of Employment and Labor cited that, as of 2025, the Employment Insurance Fund recorded a short-term fiscal deficit of 592 billion won, with the unemployment benefit account alone in deficit by 1.7622 trillion won, and that spending on maternity protection, such as parental leave benefits, has grown.
- Who is affected — All workplaces and workers covered by employment insurance (unemployment benefit premiums are split equally between employer and worker)
- When — Not yet decided. Stage: legislative pre-announcement (comment period September 22 – November 2, 2026) · Effective date ⚠️ check the original text (supplementary provisions)
- A word from the administrative agent — This is not finalized yet, but if you run a small or mid-sized business and are drafting next year's labor cost budget, it's safer to leave room for higher premiums. If you have an opinion, you can submit it through the National Participatory Legislation Center by November 2.
- Source: [National Participatory Legislation Center · Legislative notice of partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Collection of Insurance Premiums for Employment Insurance and Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance (Ministry of Employment and Labor)](https://opinion.lawmaking.go.kr/gcom/ogLmPp/88792)
## 2. Employers punished for labor law violations face limits on Certificates for Confirmation of Visa Issuance for invited foreign nationals (Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act)
- What changes — Being punished for violating the Labor Standards Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Serious Accidents Punishment Act or the Seafarers Act will be added to the grounds on which the Minister of Justice may refuse to issue a Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance. This covers not only those who invite foreign nationals directly, but also user employers who intend to use invited foreign nationals under the Act on the Protection of Temporary Agency Workers.
- Who is affected — Employers planning to invite or hire foreign workers, user employers planning to use dispatched foreign workers, and shipowners employing seafarers
- When — Not yet decided. Stage: legislative pre-announcement (comment period September 22 – November 2, 2026)
- A word from the administrative agent — Going forward, a workplace's record of labor- or safety-related punishment may be reviewed separately as a disqualifying factor in visa screening. If your workplace plans to hire foreign nationals, it's wise to check before applying whether you have any past punishment record and, if so, when it was and what the penalty was.
- Source: [National Participatory Legislation Center · Legislative notice of partial amendment to the Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act (Ministry of Justice)](https://opinion.lawmaking.go.kr/gcom/ogLmPp/88796)
## 3. Cancellation of GS E&C's 1-month business suspension over the Geomdan collapse in Incheon is final — "the burden of proof lies with the issuing authority"
- What changes — The one-month business suspension for civil engineering and building construction work that the Seoul Metropolitan Government imposed on January 31, 2024 under the Framework Act on the Construction Industry, in connection with the April 2023 collapse of an apartment complex's underground parking garage in Geomdan New Town, Incheon, has been finally cancelled. After the first-instance ruling (September 2025), the appellate court also dismissed Seoul's appeal, and since Seoul did not appeal to the Supreme Court, the judgment became final on September 19, GS E&C disclosed on September 22. The court found that Seoul had failed to meet its burden of proving the grounds for the disposition.
- Who is affected — Construction businesses that have received, or are facing, sanctions such as a business suspension
- When — Judgment final on September 19, 2026 (the disposition was never enforced in the meantime because of a stay of execution)
- A word from the administrative agent — This case shows once again that a sanction holds only if the issuing authority proves both the violation and who is responsible for it. If you have received a similar disposition, the first step is to check the deadline for filing an administrative appeal or lawsuit (within 90 days from the date you became aware of the disposition) and whether you can apply for a stay of execution.
- Source: [Newspim · GS E&C's 1-month business suspension over the 'Geomdan apartment collapse' finally cancelled](https://www.newspim.com/news/view/20260922001104) (report citing GS E&C's electronic disclosure)
## 4. Price gouging: 5-day business suspension from the first violation · 30-day license suspension for taxi overcharging
- What changes — Lodging and restaurant businesses that fail to post a price list or don't honor their posted prices may receive a 5-day business suspension from the first violation. Taxi drivers confirmed to have overcharged face an immediate 30-day license suspension. On September 22, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held its second-half "Fair Price and Hospitality Campaign" at Haeundae Market, Busan, and announced crackdowns for the Chuseok and autumn peak season. Legal amendments are also underway to require lodging businesses to report seasonal price caps in advance and to ban unilaterally cancelling confirmed reservations and reselling them.
- Who is affected — Operators of lodging businesses (Public Health Control Act), urban homestays for foreign tourists and hanok experience businesses (Tourism Promotion Act) and restaurants (Food Sanitation Act), and taxi drivers
- When — Already in effect: lodging from July 14, urban homestays for foreign tourists and hanok experience businesses from August 4, restaurants from September 1, taxis from September 4
- A word from the administrative agent — If you changed your prices for the holiday rush, update your posted price list on the same day. If you receive advance notice of a business suspension, the basic step is to gather proof of posting and compliance, such as photos of the price list and receipts, and submit your explanation within the deadline for submitting opinions.
- Source: [Aju Business Daily · Business suspension from the first price-gouging violation… government steps up crackdown ahead of autumn peak season](https://www.ajunews.com/amp/20260922082109753) (report on the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Tourism Organization campaign)
## Deadlines to watch this week
- September 23 (Wed) – October 11 (Sun) — Ministry of Justice special immigration inspection period for Chuseok and the October holidays (departure inspection at Incheon Airport starts at 5 a.m.; departure areas open 30 minutes early) · [Ministry of Justice press release](https://www.korea.kr/briefing/pressReleaseView.do?newsId=156783021)
- September 29 (Tue) — Application deadline for the 4th round of E-9 foreign worker employment permits
- November 2 (Mon) — Comment deadline for the unemployment benefit premium rate increase, the amendment to the Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act, and the amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Public Officials Accident Compensation Act
*This briefing was compiled by the Hwang Yun-sang Administrative Agent's Office based on publicly available information. Whether it applies to your specific case should be confirmed with the competent authority.*