This is the Hwang Yunsang Administrative Agent Office, a licensed administrative agent (Haengjeongsa) office serving Incheon and Songdo. October starts tomorrow. Today we look at two civil-service changes taking effect at the end of October, a newly announced legislative notice, and issues raised about foreign worker employment recommendations.
Today's 3 key points > 1. From October 29, the label 'spouse's child' will disappear from resident registration certificates (full and abstract copies) and be replaced with 'household member'. Foreign nationals will have their names recorded in both Korean script and Roman letters. > 2. From the same day, the household income criterion will be deleted from the requirements for advance child support payments. Any single-parent family that has not received child support can apply regardless of income. > 3. A draft amendment to the Enforcement Rule of the Bicycle Act, which limits where fixie bicycles without brakes may be ridden to places such as velodromes, has been announced for legislative notice (comments until November 9).
## 1. 'Spouse's Child' Label Removed from Resident Registration Certificates, Effective October 29
- What changes: Under an amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Resident Registration Act, family members under the Civil Act (children, parents, etc.) other than the head of household's spouse will be listed as 'household member', and all others as 'cohabitant'. The previous practice of listing children from a remarriage separately as 'spouse's child' and placing them after 'child' will also end, and lineal ascendants and descendants of the head of household's spouse will be registered at the same rank as those of the head of household.
- Foreign nationals: The resident registration record will show a foreign national's name in both Korean script and Roman letters, and applications for correction or change may be filed not only by the person concerned but also by the head of household or a household member.
- Who it affects: Households, such as remarried families, that found it burdensome for family relationships to be revealed on the certificate, and families with a foreign household member
- Effective date: October 29, 2026
- Administrative agent's note: Banks, insurers and schools sometimes require documents showing family relationships in detail. After the change takes effect, first check whether the certificate you obtain meets the requirements of the receiving institution, and if it does not, please prepare a Family Relation Certificate as well. For a foreign spouse, we recommend checking right after the change takes effect that the name is registered in the same Roman spelling as in the passport.
- Sources: [Herald Economy · 'Remarriage children' also listed as 'household member' on resident registration certificates](https://www.heraldk.com/article/2026042018404851905) · [Asia Economy · Systems changing from October](https://view.asiae.co.kr/article/2026092808410640391) (Primary source: Ministry of the Interior and Safety, amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Resident Registration Act)
## 2. Income Criteria for Advance Child Support Payments Abolished, Eligibility Expanded for Single-Parent Families
- What changes: Following an amendment to the Act on Securing and Supporting Child Support Payments, the recognized-income criterion for the child support creditor's household will be deleted from the requirements for advance child support payments. Currently, only households at or below 150% of the standard median income can apply.
- Other changes: The draft amendment to the Enforcement Decree announced for legislative notice by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family includes expanding the membership of the Child Support Enforcement Deliberation Committee, the scope of investigations to verify grounds for advance payment, and the legal basis for requesting data from relevant agencies when forcibly collecting advance payments made improperly.
- Who it affects: Single-parent families not receiving child support from the other parent after divorce or separation
- Effective date: October 29, 2026 (the effective date of the parent Act). The advance payment has been reported to be about 200,000 won per month (⚠️ needs verification against the original).
- Administrative agent's note: Families that were ineligible because of income can apply from October 29. Gathering in advance an enforceable title, such as a child support judgment or conciliation record, and deposit records showing non-payment will speed up your application. Improper receipt is subject to repayment and forced collection, so please report changes in income or household as they occur.
- Sources: [National Participatory Legislation Center · Legislative notice of the draft partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Securing and Supporting Child Support Payments](https://opinion.lawmaking.go.kr/gcom/ogLmPp/87276) · [Asia Economy · Systems changing from October](https://view.asiae.co.kr/article/2026092808410640391)
## 3. Riding Areas for Fixie Bicycles Restricted: Legislative Notice of the Enforcement Rule of the Bicycle Act
- What changes: On September 29, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced for legislative notice a draft partial amendment to the Enforcement Rule of the Act on the Promotion of the Use of Bicycles. It sets out matters delegated to ministerial ordinance by the Act amended in July this year, which brought fixie bicycles without brakes under regulation.
- Key details: Bicycles without brakes may be ridden only in designated places, such as velodromes and sports facilities where the operator has put safety management measures in place and permitted their use. Safety requirements that applied only to electric bicycles will be extended to bicycles in general, and bicycles exceeding size standards may also be restricted from using bicycle paths. The local government codes in bicycle registration numbers will also be changed to reflect the reorganization of administrative districts.
- Who it affects: Fixie bicycle riders and parents of children who ride them, bicycle shops, and sports facility operators
- Effective date: To be determined (legislative notice stage; comments accepted until November 9, 2026)
- Administrative agent's note: For a sports facility to permit the use of fixie bicycles, the operator must put safety management measures in place. Facilities that operate tracks or practice areas should check the items of the safety management measures before the rule takes effect, and anyone with comments may submit them to the National Participatory Legislation Center within the deadline.
- Source: [National Participatory Legislation Center · Legislative notice of the draft partial amendment to the Enforcement Rule of the Act on the Promotion of the Use of Bicycles](https://opinion.lawmaking.go.kr/gcom/ogLmPp/88886)
## 4. Ministry of SMEs and Startups E-7-1 Employment Recommendations: Criticism Over Lack of Sanctions for False Documents
- What was raised: The Ministry of SMEs and Startups issues E-7-1 (professional) visa employment recommendation letters, limited to certain occupations, when a foreign student signs an employment contract with a small or medium-sized enterprise. The company submits documents to the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency, and after review the Ministry issues the recommendation. However, it has been pointed out that even when false documents are discovered, there are no sanctions other than a written pledge, and that when problems arise the Ministry can do little more than ask the Ministry of Justice to cancel the recommendation.
- Comparison with other ministries: According to reports, recommendations by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (KOTRA) restrict recommendation applications for up to 2 years in cases of intentional forgery, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare does not issue recommendations for 5 years to either the company or the individual involved in falsifying documents. Lawmaker Kim Won-i called for sanctions to be established and for cooperation with the Ministry of Justice.
- Who it affects: SMEs preparing to hire foreign students, and foreign students seeking to switch to E-7-1 after graduation
- Effective date: Not a change to the system (at the stage of criticism in the National Assembly; whether new sanctions will be introduced is undecided)
- Administrative agent's note: Even though there are no sanctions at present, a recommendation obtained with false documents can be cancelled and can lead to disadvantages in the review of your status of stay. When applying for an employment recommendation, please cross-check before submission that the duties and wages in the employment contract match the actual work, and that degree and career documents match the originals.
- Source: [Wide Economy · Gaps in sanctions against illegal brokers in Ministry of SMEs and Startups visa recommendations](https://www.widedaily.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=301555) (Primary source: Ministry of SMEs and Startups recruitment notice for employment recommendations of foreign professionals)
## Deadlines to Watch This Week
- October 13: Deadline for the administrative notice of the Fair Trade Commission's draft amendment to the leniency notice for voluntary reporting of collusion
- October 19: Deadline for comments on the draft amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Mental Health Welfare Act (common duties of psychological counseling)
- October 29: Change in resident registration certificate labels and abolition of income criteria for advance child support payments take effect
- November 2: Deadline for comments on the draft amendments to the Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rule of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Enforcement Decree of the Medical Service Act (non-face-to-face treatment)
- November 9: Deadline for comments on the draft amendments to the Enforcement Rule of the Bicycle Act and the Enforcement Decree of the National Technical Qualifications Act
*This briefing was compiled by the Hwang Yunsang Administrative Agent Office based on publicly available information. Whether it applies to an individual case should be confirmed with the competent authority.*