[Changes from the Second Half of the Year] Choose Solar Power... Resident Registration Card Issuance Anywhere Nationwide

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] From now on, renewable energy electricity suppliers such as solar power providers will be able to supply electricity produced using renewable energy directly to electricity users.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance published "Changes Starting from the Second Half of 2021," which summarizes the changes in systems and regulations starting from the second half of this year, on the 28th.

Until now, power generators and electricity sales businesses were only allowed to trade through the electricity market in principle, and it was not possible to purchase only renewable energy electricity separately. Going forward, with the introduction of the direct Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) system, electricity users will be able to choose and buy electricity produced from renewable energy without going through the electricity market.

This will enable electricity users to participate in the "RE100" campaign, which certifies the use of renewable energy electricity. RE100 is a global campaign targeting high electricity-consuming companies to convert 100% of their electricity consumption to renewable energy by 2050. It is also expected to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fine dust through the activation of renewable energy distribution.

The legal foundation to address low birth rates and aging in local cities will also be strengthened. As the designation criteria and support contents for population decline areas are specified, the Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety will designate population decline areas after consulting with related ministries and local governments and reviewing with the National Balanced Development Deliberation Committee, considering population decline rates in metropolitan cities, special self-governing cities, and city/county/district levels. The financial and administrative support areas for these regions, including social overhead capital (SOC), education, culture, and housing construction, have also been specified.

All Intellectual Property Infringements and Sales Exceeding Rights Holder’s Production Capacity Must Compensate Damages... New Resident Registration Cards Can Be Issued Anywhere Nationwide

In the patent field, the method of calculating damages for all intellectual property infringements, including trademarks, designs, unfair competition acts, and trade secrets, will be improved. Until now, even if intellectual property infringement occurred on a large scale, damages could not be claimed for sales exceeding the rights holder’s production capacity. Now, the "improved damage calculation method" allowing reasonable royalties for sales exceeding the rights holder’s production capacity has been reflected in the Trademark Act, Design Protection Act, Unfair Competition Prevention Act, and Trade Secret Protection Act. Accordingly, together with the previously introduced triple damages system for intellectual property infringement, it is expected to eradicate large-scale malicious intellectual property infringements and strengthen protection for intellectual property rights holders.

In the broadcasting and telecommunications sector, from July, differential regulations between terrestrial and paid broadcasting will be eliminated, allowing mid-roll advertisements regardless of the broadcasting medium. The total amount of advertising and the time for virtual and indirect advertisements will also be applied equally regardless of the broadcasting medium. However, in the case of split programming that divides essentially the same program into parts 1 and 2, advertisements scheduled between these parts will be treated as mid-roll ads, and the time and frequency will be integrated and applied as mid-roll advertisements.

Additionally, new resident registration cards can be issued anywhere nationwide. Until now, to receive a resident registration card, one had to visit the local administrative office (eup/myeon/dong) of their place of residence. Going forward, users can pre-register a photo for the resident registration card issuance through the electronic civil service window and designate the eup/myeon/dong community service center they will visit, where the card can then be issued. However, in this case, after pre-registering the photo, the user must visit the designated eup/myeon/dong community service center by the next normal working day to register fingerprints.

Furthermore, from July, the domestic stay period for foreigners will be granted only within the validity period of their passport. In cases of intentional non-payment of child support debts, a public disclosure list will be introduced, and departure bans can be requested.

In the fair trade sector, when large-scale distributors receive goods through direct purchase transactions with suppliers, payment for the goods must be made within 60 days from the date of receipt. Also, even if the Fair Trade Commission does not take action after investigating a company’s legal violations, it must notify the company in writing of the basis, content, and reasons in principle. This is to enhance clarity and transparency in the pre-case handling stage.

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