Starting September, Imprisonment for Drunken Disorderly Conduct in Taxis and Buses

Eradicating the "Second N번방 Incident"... Revised Juvenile Sex Offender Act Also Enforced

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Starting next month, anyone who causes harm to others while drinking alcohol on buses, taxis, or other vehicles will face imprisonment.

The Ministry of Government Legislation announced on the 29th that 53 laws, including amendments to the Passenger Transport Service Act, will take effect next month.

First, from the 24th of next month, the Passenger Transport Service Act, which expands the scope of vehicle rental businesses to include camping vehicles, will be enforced. Drinking alcohol or taking drugs inside passenger transport vehicles such as buses and taxis and causing harm to others is prohibited. Violators will face up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won.

The amendment also adds camping vehicles to the scope of vehicle rental businesses. Considering that hydrogen prices in Korea are higher than traditional energy sources like petroleum or natural gas, a hydrogen fuel subsidy system for transport operators has been newly established. This aims to secure price competitiveness for hydrogen fuel and promote the distribution and use of hydrogen electric vehicles.

To eradicate incidents like the "second n-bunbang case," from next month, those who repeatedly engage in sexual conversations with children and adolescents will face up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won.

From the 24th of next month, the amended Child and Youth Act, which includes provisions for punishing "online grooming," will be applied. Special investigation measures will also be applied to digital sex crimes.

The amendment raises penalties for inducing or enticing children and adolescents for sexual purposes from the previous maximum of one year imprisonment or a fine of up to 10 million won to up to three years imprisonment or a fine of up to 30 million won. Those who engage in continuous or repeated conversations via information and communication networks that may arouse sexual desire, shame, or disgust for the purpose of sexually exploiting children and adolescents will face up to three years imprisonment or a fine of up to 30 million won.

In particular, for crimes related to the production, import, or export of child and adolescent sexual exploitation materials, the statute of limitations under the Criminal Procedure Act will not apply. This reflects the determination to prosecute these crimes without any statute of limitations. Special investigation provisions allowing undercover investigations and identity concealment investigations for digital sex crimes against children and adolescents have also been established.

The Administrative Basic Act, a comprehensive administrative regulation, will also take effect on September 24. This act includes standards to be followed when imposing sanctions, and allows for deferment or installment payment of fines as a matter of courtesy.

Additionally, from the 1st of next month, the Act on the Use and Provision of Social Security Benefits and the Discovery of Beneficiaries will be enforced, which requires periodic verification and guidance of applicants' eligibility for social security benefits. If applicants do not refuse tailored benefit guidance, their application will be deemed accepted.

Other laws such as the Early Childhood Education Act, the Natural Disaster Insurance Act, the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, the Housing Act, the Public Housing Management Act, the Special Act for the Construction of Gadeokdo New Airport, and the Act on Supporting the Quality of Life of Long-term Public Rental Housing Residents are also scheduled to be enforced from next month.

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