Regulation Easing to Accelerate Reconstruction Projects

- A total of 29 laws, including the Act on the Improvement of

Urban Areas and Residential Environments, coming into effect in May

Starting in May, the government will streamline the process of estimating contributions for improvement plans to expedite reconstruction projects, and also issue passports with a 10-year validity period to those who have not completed military service. The Ministry of Government Legislation (Minister Lee Wan-kyu) announced that a total of 29 statutes will come into effect in May. Some of the key details and enforcement dates of the forthcoming statutes are as follows.

Deregulation to Expedite Reconstruction Projects (「ACT ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF URBAN AREAS AND RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENTS」, May 1)

Starting on May 1, regulations will be eased to allow reconstruction projects to proceed more quickly. Firstly, the improvement plan must include the estimated charge apportioned to the owners of each plot of land or each structure and the ground for calculating the amount, but hereafter, only the estimated charge and the ground for calculation for each type of owner will need to be included, reducing the procedural burden.

Secondly, the restriction on the use of buildings that allowed only studio-type residential buildings built in reconstruction projects other than housing, ancillary, and welfare facilities, will be abolished. Accordingly, it will be possible to build other types of buildings, such as cultural or business facilities, based on project conditions and community needs. The reconstruction project will not only supply housing, but also enable complex development that fits the characteristics of the area, enhancing business performance.

Thirdly, the requirements for establishing a reconstruction association will also be eased. For example, the consent threshold from divided owners of the housing complex will be lowered from 75% to 70%. Aside from this, related administrative procedures will be simplified, including the addition of integrated review at the authorization stage of a project implementation plan.

Passports with 10-Year Validity Available to Those Who Have Not Completed Military Service (「ENFORCEMENT DECREE OF THE PASSPORT ACT」, May 1)

From May 1, those who have not completed their military service, including those on a preliminary military service, onboard ship reserve service, or assigned to supplementary or alternative service, will be eligible to receive multiple-entry passports valid for 10 years, aligning with the standard passport validity granted to the general public. This is because the regulation that limited the validity of multiple-entry passports to five years is abolished to eliminate unreasonable discrimination against those who have not completed military service. The abolition of the validity restriction will apply to all passport applications received on or after May 1, and applicants will be able to apply for a passport without the need to verify their military service information, such as submitting military service documents. However, despite the removal of passport validity restrictions, individuals who have not fulfilled their mandatory military service will still be required to obtain permission for overseas travel in order to leave or stay abroad.

Superintendents of Education Required to Establish Annual Action Plans for School Violence Prevention (「ACT ON THE PREVENTION OF AND COUNTERMEASURES AGAINST VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS」, May 22)

From this year, superintendents of education in each city or Do will be required to formulate and implement an annual action plan for the prevention of and countermeasures against school violence, taking into account local conditions, including the results of the school violence survey. The role of the superintendent of education will be greatly strengthened to prevent school violence more effectively. The superintendents of education must annually report on the result of the previous year's action plan and the next year's action plan. They are expected to take a leading role in building a more systematic and effective response system to school violence.

The reasons for the enactment of the new statutes, including those stated above, can be found at the Korean Law Information Center (www.law.go.kr).

(Unofficial Translation)

“이 자료는 법제처의 보도자료를 전재하여 제공함을 알려드립니다.”