Maximum Seats for Small Airlines Set at 80... Penalties Eased for Youth Using Fake IDs to Enter Jjimjilbangs and Other Places

Prime Minister's Office Regulatory Reform Ombudsman Announces 7 Cases of Regulatory Relaxation in the Economic Sector

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Kim Hyewon] The maximum number of passenger seats for small airlines such as Hi Air will be increased from 50 to 80 seats. Administrative sanctions on self-employed workers of jjimjilbangs and lodging businesses who suffered damages due to youth entering with forged or altered IDs will be exempted or reduced.

The Office for Government Policy Coordination announced on the 23rd seven cases of economic sector improvements based on public suggestions received through the Regulatory Reform Petition Board. This follows up on the livelihood sector on the 16th, improving regulatory obstacles faced by businesses and self-employed workers in the economic field.

The government plans to increase the maximum number of passenger seats for small airlines to 80, reflecting changes in aircraft manufacturing conditions, and support the revitalization of local small airport routes. Currently, the main products of global aircraft manufacturers have shifted from 50 seats in the past to 70?150 seats.

However, domestically, the Enforcement Decree of the Aviation Business Act stipulates that registered aircraft for small airline transport businesses must have 50 or fewer passenger seats. Small airline A is operating at a loss close to 1.5 million KRW per flight even when fully booked at an average fare of 40,000 KRW, and is considering closure due to rising costs for fuel, personnel, equipment, and safety assurance. An official from the Office for Government Policy Coordination explained, "Small airlines transporting fewer passengers than low-cost carriers (LCCs) are suffering from deteriorating profitability; one has suspended operations and another is barely continuing. This regulatory reform case means securing minimum profitability to maintain the aviation industry ecosystem and air routes at small airports." The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to revise the Enforcement Decree of the Aviation Business Act by December next year.

The current Public Hygiene Management Act, which imposes uniform administrative sanctions on business operators without considering whether they were aware in advance when youths enter public hygiene establishments such as jjimjilbangs and lodging businesses using forged or altered IDs, will also be amended. If the business operator has unavoidable circumstances that prevent confirming the youth’s identity, administrative sanctions will be exempted or reduced.

The scope of feed recycling for non-compliant imported food will be expanded to secure feed resources and reduce industry burdens. Instead of returning or disposing of imported food raw materials judged non-compliant, they can be converted for feed use with approval from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The target will be expanded from grains and legumes to all plant-based raw materials and products.

Additionally, installation of on-site offices inside buildings under construction will be permitted, and the validity period of regular inspections for construction machinery on sale or display will be extended from the current 6 months to 3 years to reduce inspection burdens.

The liquor license procedure for chain operators supplying liquor to retail liquor stores will be simplified from requiring more than 9 months to more than 6 months. The Office for Government Policy Coordination stated, "Four major domestic convenience store headquarters estimated that due to this regulation, unnecessary on-site costs exceeding approximately 70 billion KRW will be incurred over the next three years."

The hazardous chemical subcontracting work reporting procedure will also be simplified to require only approval from the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

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