LAW & POLICY
Trends
Driver's License Renewal Moves to the Six Months Around Your Birthday · SME Restructuring Support Closes Oct 15, Plus 2 More | Administrative Briefing, Sept 20
From this year, the driver's license aptitude test and renewal window changed from a year-end deadline to the six months before and after your own birthday. Miss it and you pay a fine; miss it by another year and your license is revoked. The final application round of the year for the SME business restructuring support program closes October 15, and an amendment on state funding for veterans' pharmaceutical co-payments is open for comment until October 28.
Extension of residency deferral in land transaction permit areas until the end of 2027, support for tuning of pedal override prevention devices, and 3 other items | Administrative Briefing, September 19
A decree revision extending the application period for suspension of the actual residence obligation for houses with tenants in land transaction permit areas until December 31, 2027, has been released, with a short public comment period until September 23. Procedures for exemption from tuning approval and inspection and cost support for pedal malfunction prevention devices for elderly drivers will be established. Also included are updates on Supreme Court rulings regarding elementary school first-grade bullying, mandatory Indonesian halal certification, and revisions to the Incheon Airport noise ordinance.
Mandatory Continuing Education for Lifelong Educators from December 3 · Merger Filing Rules Amended, and 3 More | Administrative Briefing, September 18
Continuing education becomes mandatory for lifelong educators, with the legislative notice on the implementing regulations open until October 27. Acqui-hire deals may also trigger merger filings, and comments to the Korea Fair Trade Commission are due September 30. Also covered: 95 companies certified as Best HRD institutions, and a draft amendment to the Housing and Urban Fund Act Enforcement Decree.
Push to Delete School Violence Act Sexual-Violence Clause · Foreign National Pension Back-Payment Review | Admin Briefing, Sept 17
Superintendents of all 17 provinces and cities will ask the Ministry of Education to delete Article 5(2) of the School Violence Prevention Act, which bars applying the Act to sexual violence. The Ministry of Health and Welfare launched a task force on foreign nationals' national pension back-payments and basic pension residency requirements. Also covered: a ruling upholding a 45-day business suspension, and a legislative notice creating open-pit mining permits in green-belt zones.
Spousal parental leave, bereavement leave for miscarriage/stillbirth takes effect September 18 · 276 schools designated as violence prevention schools, plus 1 additional | Administrative Briefing, September 16
Starting September 18th, maternity leave for spouses can be taken 50 days before the expected due date, and penalties for unpaid retirement benefits have increased to a maximum of 5 years imprisonment and a 50 million won fine. The Ministry of Education is operating 276 schools as violence prevention pioneer schools, and the National Law Service is streamlining regulations regarding overcharge demands and collection of fines related to laws under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
Forest fire ignition fine of 20 million won · Illegal subcontracting voluntary reporting reduction, plus 2 other items | Administrative Briefing, September 16
Fines for fires in forests have increased to a maximum of 20 million won, and autumn enforcement is underway. A decree allowing the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to directly handle illegal subcontracting in the construction industry and reducing penalties by up to half for voluntary reporting has been approved. A draft law including non-business small drones in the reporting requirements has been announced.