Strengthening 'Resident Registration Access Restrictions' for Domestic Violence Offenders...Amended Resident Registration Act Passed by National Assembly

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[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that the Resident Registration Act, which minimizes the risk of address exposure for victims of domestic violence to prevent secondary damage, was approved at the National Assembly plenary session on the 29th.

The Resident Registration Act passed in this plenary session expanded the scope of applicants for restrictions on viewing the resident registration records from members of the same household to include the victim's children and parents. Prioritizing the personal safety risks caused by the exposure of the victim's address, it allows not only household members living with the victim but also the victim's children and parents living at different addresses to apply for restrictions on viewing (issuance of) resident registration abstracts and certificates.

Viewing and issuance of the victim's resident registration abstracts were also restricted for interested parties subject to viewing restrictions. Previously, if a domestic violence perpetrator designated as a restricted person for viewing (issuance) of resident registration records proved to be a creditor, debtor, or other interested party with the victim, they could view (obtain) the victim's abstract, which posed a risk of exposing the victim's address.

Accordingly, the amended Resident Registration Act limits the scope of "persons with legitimate interests such as creditors and debtors" so that a person designated as restricted due to domestic violence (the perpetrator) who is an interested party such as a creditor or debtor of the victim is restricted from viewing or obtaining the victim's resident registration abstract.

This amendment to the Resident Registration Act reflects the recommendation of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission to improve the resident registration viewing restriction system for the protection of domestic violence victims.

Minister Jeon Hae-cheol stated, "This amendment to the Resident Registration Act is significant in that it improves deficiencies identified during the operation of the system since the introduction of protection provisions for domestic violence victims in 2009, thereby supplementing and strengthening institutional protection for domestic violence victims," and added, "Since the amended Resident Registration Act will be enforced in 2022, we will cooperate with related agencies to prepare so that protection for domestic violence victims can be more robust through revising subordinate laws and public awareness campaigns during the remaining period."

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