Accident Vehicle Major Component Information Provision Act... Industry Expresses Concerns Over Potential Core Technology Leakage

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] A bill is being promoted that requires manufacturers to provide control information of major vehicle components, including the engine, in the event of a car accident. Although the bill aims to clarify the causes of car accidents more precisely, the completed vehicle industry is concerned that this regulation adds to the already mandatory disclosure of Event Data Recorder (EDR) information and that excessive disclosure of information could lead to technology leakage.

According to political circles on the 25th, Kang Ki-yoon, a member of the Future United Party, has introduced the "Partial Amendment to the Automobile Management Act" containing such provisions as the main sponsor.

The core of this bill is to allow users to request the provision of data related to major vehicle components involved in an accident and the reading of the relevant control devices from the vehicle manufacturer when an accident occurs while the vehicle is stopped or in operation, and to obligate the manufacturer to comply. A penalty clause has also been newly established, stipulating imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of up to 10 million won if the request is refused or evaded.

The purpose is to protect the victim's right to know in the event of a car accident and to clarify responsibility more clearly in case of disputes.

However, the automobile manufacturing industry is concerned about technology leakage. This is because the scope of information disclosure stipulated by the bill covers all major vehicle components. In a situation where competition in advanced technologies, represented by semi-autonomous driving technology, is becoming increasingly fierce, disclosing overall control information could also mean providing corporate secrets.

An industry insider said, "We need to observe the legislative process more closely, but according to the current bill, it requires disclosure of all contents related to vehicle control devices," adding, "This could put manufacturers in a dilemma where they may have to disclose key technologies directly at times."

There is also criticism that expanding the disclosure scope is a redundant regulation since EDR disclosure is already mandatory. Another automobile industry official said, "EDR legislation was enacted in 2012 and has been mandatorily disclosed upon request since December 2015," adding, "We expect that parts exceeding the EDR recording scope will be adjusted during the bill review process."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.