Today we first look at how elementary school violence cases end up before the School Violence Deliberation Committee, then go through the pre-announced enforcement decree in the mental health field, the southern Ganghwa Free Economic Zone in Incheon, and a court ruling on changing the designation of an urban park.
Today's 3 key points > 1. The share of elementary school violence cases referred to the School Violence Deliberation Committee rose from 28.8% to 49.2% over five years, and 28.4% of deliberated cases concluded as "not school violence." > 2. Comments on the draft amendment to the enforcement decree adding psychological counseling and disaster psychological support to the common duties of mental health professionals will be accepted until October 19. > 3. Consultation with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is expected to begin next month on the additional designation of 6.32㎢ around Hwado-myeon and Gilsang-myeon, Ganghwa, Incheon, as a Free Economic Zone.
## 1. Elementary cases eligible for principal self-resolution still go to the committee: deliberation rate at 49.2%
- What is changing: According to an analysis of Ministry of Education data by the office of Rep. Kim Moon-soo of the National Assembly Education Committee, the share of elementary school violence cases referred to the School Violence Deliberation Committee rose from 28.8% in the 2021 school year to 49.2% in the 2025 school year. Over the same period, reported cases grew 24.1%, from 13,040 to 16,184, while deliberations grew 111.8%, from 3,757 to 7,957. Of the 7,957 elementary deliberations in the 2025 school year, 4,162 (52.3%) met the requirements for resolution by the school principal (self-resolution) but went to deliberation because the guardians did not consent.
- More "not school violence" conclusions: The share of deliberations at elementary schools ending with a "not school violence" conclusion rose from 19.5% in the 2022 school year to 28.4% in the 2025 school year. For minor cases only, the Chungbuk Office of Education extends the review period of the school's dedicated task team from three weeks to four weeks to run a relationship-restoration program. From March to August this year, the program was applied to 558 of 944 minor cases, and 551 of them were closed through resolution by the school principal.
- Who it affects: Guardians of elementary school children; teachers in charge of the school's dedicated task team
- Effective from: Not a policy change (data released for the parliamentary audit). Chungbuk's cooling-off system has been expanded from grades 1–2 to all grades up to grade 6 and is in operation
- Note from the administrative agent: Resolution by the school principal is possible when there is no medical certificate of two weeks or more, property damage was restored immediately, the conduct was not continuous and not retaliatory, and the victim's side does not want deliberation. If the case goes to the committee, a separate deadline for an administrative appeal (90 days from the date you learned of the measure) runs once you receive the measure. Before deciding whether to consent, we recommend first comparing the timelines and record differences of the two routes.
- Sources: [Hankook Ilbo · One in two elementary school violence cases goes to the deliberation committee](https://www.hankookilbo.com/news/article/amp/A2026092010410004172) (primary source: data submitted by the Ministry of Education, analyzed by the office of Rep. Kim Moon-soo) · [Chungcheong Times · Chungbuk Office of Education's relationship-restoration cooling-off system for school violence](https://www.cctimes.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=929250)
## 2. Pre-announcement of the Mental Health Welfare Act Enforcement Decree: psychological counseling as a common duty of mental health professionals
- What is changing: The Ministry of Health and Welfare has issued a pre-announcement of legislation for an amendment that creates a new item under Subparagraph 1 of Annex 2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Mental Health Welfare Act, adding "carrying out psychological counseling and disaster psychological support projects implemented by the state, local governments, etc." to the common duties of mental health professionals. Mental health professionals cover four fields: mental health clinical psychologists, nurses, social workers and occupational therapists.
- Point of contention: The clinical psychology side opposes it, saying the weight of counseling differs in each field's training, while the nursing, social work and occupational therapy sides are gathering supportive opinions. The Ministry of Health and Welfare held three meetings of a four-field consultative body in July and August.
- Who it affects: The four fields of mental health professionals; local government mental health welfare centers and organizations carrying out disaster psychological support projects
- Effective from: Pre-announcement stage (comments until Oct. 19); effective date ⚠️ original source needs checking
- Note from the administrative agent: Organizations commissioned to run public psychological counseling or disaster psychological support projects may see changes in the qualification requirements for their staff. Even before the amendment is finalized, any individual or organization can submit comments through the National Participatory Legislation Center, and the deadline is October 19.
- Sources: [Doctors News · Renewed push to make "psychological counseling" a common duty of mental health professionals](https://www.doctorsnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=166286) (primary source: Ministry of Health and Welfare pre-announcement of the partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Mental Health Welfare Act) · [Seoul Ilbo · Ministry of Health and Welfare internal document on the psychological counseling decree](https://www.seoulilbo.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=21855)
## 3. Additional Free Economic Zone designation for southern Ganghwa: consultation with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy next month
- What is changing: The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority (IFEZ) is going through the procedure to additionally designate 6.32㎢ around Hwado-myeon and Gilsang-myeon, Ganghwa-gun, as a Free Economic Zone, following Songdo, Yeongjong and Cheongna. The disaster impact review by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has been completed, and after the strategic environmental assessment by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, full-scale consultation with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is expected to begin next month. The target designation date has been pushed back several times, from December last year to March and then June this year.
- Transport measures: The draft metropolitan transport improvement plan is considering spending a total of 1.2 trillion won on building and widening roads, with the project operator bearing the project costs from 2028. The largest share, 982.4 billion won, goes to building the Yeongjong–Ganghwa Peace Road (11.4 km).
- Who it affects: Owners of land and buildings in Hwado-myeon and Gilsang-myeon, Ganghwa; farmland owners; businesses preparing projects or permits in the area
- Effective from: Not yet designated (whether it will be designated within the year is undecided). The project cost burden for transport measures is under review from 2028
- Note from the administrative agent: Once an area is designated as a Free Economic Zone, land use restrictions and compensation procedures follow at the development plan and implementation plan stages. If you own land or farmland in the area, we recommend keeping an eye on notices from Ganghwa-gun and the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority so you do not miss the resident hearings and public inspection notices before and after the designation is announced.
- Source: [Daum News · A turning point for designating the southern Ganghwa Free Economic Zone within the year](https://v.daum.net/v/20260926131430465?f=p) (reporting based on coverage of the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, Incheon City and Ganghwa-gun)
## 4. Namsan gondola: Seoul loses again at second instance over requirements for changing an urban natural park zone
- What is changing: To install the Namsan gondola (832 m from Yejang Park to the Namsan summit area), Seoul City changed the site from an urban natural park zone to a park designated as an urban planning facility. In the lawsuit to revoke that decision filed by the existing cable car operator, Seoul lost at the first instance last December and lost again at the second instance on September 17. The court held that the site did not meet the requirement for lifting an urban natural park zone under the Enforcement Decree of the Urban Parks Act, namely "an area where green space has been damaged and its conservation function has markedly declined," so changing its designation was unlawful.
- Follow-up: Seoul City said it has asked the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to amend the Enforcement Decree of the Urban Parks Act at issue, but the follow-up procedure is being delayed. The specific amendment ⚠️ original source needs checking.
- Who it affects: Local governments and businesses seeking to install facilities or change land use within an urban natural park zone; nearby interested parties
- Effective from: Appellate ruling (whether it is final has not been confirmed)
- Note from the administrative agent: As in this case, disputes over land use or plan change decisions center on whether the requirements set by law were met. If a nearby plan change affects your business or property, start by checking the deadline to challenge it, counted from the notice date and the date you learned of the decision.
- Source: [Dongbang Ilbo · Namsan gondola stalled for two years while the Ministry of Land stands by on decree amendment](https://www.dongbangilbo.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=106793) (report on Seoul City's explanation and the appellate ruling)
## Deadlines to watch this week
- October 13: Deadline for the administrative pre-announcement of the amended Fair Trade Commission notice on leniency for cartel self-reporting (follow-up to the Sept 24 briefing)
- October 19: Deadline for comments on the amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Mental Health Welfare Act (psychological counseling as a common duty)
- November 2: Deadline for comments on the amendments to the Enforcement Decree of the Medical Service Act (telemedicine) and the Enforcement Decree of the Fair Trade Act
*This briefing was compiled by Hwang Yunsang Administrative Agent Office based on public materials. Whether it applies to an individual case needs to be confirmed with the competent authority.*