21-07-2025
Mandatory USIM encryption, penalties for safety negligence
Proposed bill: Partial Amendment to the Personal Information Protection Act
Proposed by Rep. Kim Woo-young (Democratic Party of Korea)
● This bill would expand requirements for mandatory encryption, currently limited to personally identifiable information and biometric data, to include USIM-related data.
Proposed bill: Special Act on Construction Safety
Proposed by Rep. Moon Jin-seog (Democratic Party of Korea)
● This bill would impose a business suspension of up to one year or a penalty surcharge of up to 3 percent of sales on construction firms, construction engineering businesses, and architects whose negligence in fulfilling safety management duties results in a fatality.
Pending bill: Partial Amendment to the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act
Proposed by Rep. Lee Yong-woo (Democratic Party of Korea), Rep. Shin Chang-sik (Rebuilding Korea Party) and Rep. Jung Hye-kyung (Progressive Party)
● This bill would strengthen limits on corporate damage claims against unions and redefine 'worker' to include union organizers and members, while broadening the scope of 'employer' to include persons having de facto control over the working conditions of workers.
Promulgated bill: Enforcement Decree of the Petroleum and Alternative Fuel Business Act
Competent authority: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
● Effective July 1, the amended law extends the reduced surcharge on natural gas imports for petroleum refiners, exporters, and importers of non-power generation natural gas through the end of the year, setting the surcharge at 20,605 won ($14.79) per ton.
Administrative announcement: Partial Amendment to the Employment Insurance Act
Competent authority: Ministry of Employment and Labor
● The draft amendment would revise the eligibility criteria for employment insurance by replacing the previous 'working hours' standard with an income-based threshold, thereby allowing part-time workers to enroll.
The Korea Herald republishes a weekly legislative report by local law firm DR & AJU LLC to provide the latest information on bills approved, proposed, pending and set to be promulgated. — Ed.
