Mandatory Appointment of Mechanical Equipment Maintenance Manager from April... 5 Million KRW Fine for Violations

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 1st that the amended 'Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules of the Mechanical Equipment Act,' which stipulate the career reporting and appointment procedures for mechanical equipment maintenance managers (hereinafter referred to as maintenance managers), will take effect on the 2nd.

According to the amendment, when a maintenance manager reports their certification and career details to the Korea Mechanical Equipment Construction Association, the association will verify the information, assign a maintenance manager grade, and issue a maintenance manager booklet containing the grade and career details.

Additionally, owners and managers, as management entities, must appoint maintenance managers for buildings and submit a maintenance manager appointment report to the relevant city, county, or district office, attaching the booklet of the appointed maintenance manager.

The management entity must appoint one responsible maintenance manager (from special to beginner level) and one assistant maintenance manager if the building's total floor area is 30,000㎡ or more or has 2,000 or more households. Violations of this requirement may result in a fine of up to 5 million KRW.

For newly constructed or extended buildings after the law's enforcement, appointments must be made within 30 days from the completion date, and for existing buildings, the requirement will be gradually mandated starting April 17.

Applications for maintenance manager career reporting and booklet issuance can be made from the 22nd on the Korea Mechanical Equipment Construction Association's website, and on-site submissions at the association's headquarters are also possible.

For those already responsible for mechanical equipment maintenance before the law's enforcement, an additional five-year grace period is granted to ensure continuity and professionalism in their work while preparing for certification.

A maintenance manager promotion system, allowing those with sufficient field experience and practical skills to receive higher grades through prescribed education and evaluation, is also planned to be established within the first half of this year.

Kim Kwangrim, Director of the Construction Industry Division at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "Through the maintenance manager appointment system, positive effects such as efficient operation of mechanical equipment, energy cost reduction, and performance improvement are expected," adding, "Since this is the first time the system is being implemented, we will continuously refine the system to minimize any adverse effects on the field."

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