This week’s legislative notices include two cases that directly impact business operations and an announcement from Incheon City that will influence construction plans in Incheon’s old downtown area. Since the opinion submission period for the two legislative notices lasts until late November, there is time to submit industry opinions.
Today’s Key Highlights
- Amendment to the Enforcement Rule of the Electrical Construction Business Act: The scope for reporting performance of general electrical construction will expand from under 5 million KRW to under 10 million KRW; submit opinions by Wednesday, November 25.
- Amendment to the Enforcement Rule of the Traditional Liquor Industry Act: Introduction of a written corrective order before penalties for violations in quality certification labeling and advertising; submit opinions by Tuesday, November 24.
- Incheon City: Plans to ease height restrictions around 15 sites designated as city heritage that overlap with District Unit Plans; preliminary review by the Cultural Heritage Committee to begin in November.
1. Legislative Notice: Expansion of Electrical Construction Performance Reporting Scope to Under 10 Million KRW
- What is changing: The scope for reporting performance of general electrical construction will expand from a contract amount of under 5 million KRW to under 10 million KRW (Article 18, Amendment to 2 types of forms). This is intended to reduce the paperwork burden on contractors by increasing the range of small-scale construction performance that can be reported easily. Additionally, in accordance with the legal amendment allowing business suspension for illegal subcontracting or re-subcontracting without a prior corrective order, the standards for administrative measures (Annex 1) are being reorganized, and a legal basis for designated contractor organizations to request data submission is being established.
- Who is affected: Electrical construction businesses, designated contractor organizations such as the Electrical Construction Association, and commercial/building owners who commission small-scale electrical construction.
- From when: Legislative notice period from October 15 to Wednesday, November 25. The effective date and the specific duration of business suspension in Annex 1 require ⚠️ verification of the original text.
- Administrative Agent’s Note: For electrical construction companies operating through subcontracting structures, they may become subject to immediate business suspension upon violation due to this reorganization of administrative measure standards; therefore, it is advisable to check whether current subcontracting contracts fall within the legal scope. If a business suspension order is received, an administrative appeal can be filed within 90 days from the date the order was received. Opinions can be submitted to the Electric Power Industry Policy Division of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (044-201-5842).
2. New Corrective Order Procedure for Traditional Liquor Quality Certification Violations Prior to Penalties
- What is changing: When the labeling or advertising of a product that has received liquor quality certification differs from the certification details, instead of imposing immediate penalties, a written corrective order will first be given to provide an opportunity to fix the issue (New Article 18-2). The corrective order will include the target product/advertisement, the legal basis, the matters and methods for correction, and the correction period. New standards for measures (Annex 4) have also been established, ordering labeling violations to change or remove labels within 30 days and advertising violations to revise advertisements within 10 days.
- Who is affected: Traditional liquor manufacturers that have received liquor quality certification, particularly small-scale breweries.
- From when: Legislative notice period from October 15 to Tuesday, November 24. The effective date requires ⚠️ verification of the original text.
- Administrative Agent’s Note: If a corrective order is received, you must correct the labels, online product detail pages, and advertisements within the designated period and keep records of the corrected results, such as photos, to avoid the next stage of administrative measures. It is advisable to take this opportunity to cross-check whether the actual label wording matches the certification details.
3. Incheon to Push for Relaxation of Height Restrictions Around Designated Heritage Sites, Targeting 15 Locations
- What is changing: Incheon Metropolitan City will adjust the height restrictions in areas overlapping with District Unit Plans within the historical and cultural environment preservation areas surrounding the city’s designated heritage sites. The target includes 15 locations covering 357,124㎡, such as 8 sites in Jemulpo-gu, 2 sites in Michuhol-gu, and 5 sites in Gyeyang-gu (including the former Jemulpo Club, the former Incheon Post Office, the Incheon Dohobu Government Office, and the Bupyeong Dohobu Government Office). For Zone 1, which is directly adjacent to the heritage sites, current standards will be maintained. For Zone 2, some areas will be relaxed from the current 11–17m level to a maximum of 26m, in accordance with District Unit Plan standards.
- Who is affected: Land and building owners within the relevant preservation areas, redevelopment project associations in the old downtown, and construction owners.
- From when: Preliminary review by the City Cultural Heritage Committee is scheduled for November 2026, followed by public opinion collection and field surveys in the first half of 2027, and deliberation and public notice in the second half of 2027. Current standards will apply until the public notice is issued.
- Administrative Agent’s Note: If you are planning construction or redevelopment projects within a preservation area, you must undergo a review for permission to change the current state of cultural heritage based on current permitted standards until the public notice is issued. It is advisable to check the target parcels and the adjusted heights during the public opinion collection period in the first half of 2027 and submit your opinions. For inquiries, contact the Incheon Metropolitan City Cultural Heritage Division.
Deadlines to Note This Week
- November 24 (Tue): Deadline for submitting opinions on the amendment to the Enforcement Rule of the Traditional Liquor Industry Act
- November 25 (Wed): Deadline for submitting opinions on the amendment to the Enforcement Rule of the Electrical Construction Business Act
- Dispositions such as business suspension: An administrative appeal must be filed within 90 days from the date of receiving the disposition.
This briefing is a guide organized by the Hwang Yunsang Administrative Agent (Administrative Scrivener) Office based on public data. Whether these apply to individual cases requires verification with the competent authorities.