SME Ombudsman Proposes Rationalization of Hydrogen Equipment Regulations for R&D to Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Business Roundtable Held in Wanju, North Jeolla Province
Listening to Regulatory Challenges in Hydrogen and Secondary Battery Industries

Choi Seungjae, the Small and Medium Business Ombudsman, announced on the 29th that he held the 'S.O.S. Talk' at the Hydrogen Equipment Inspection and Certification Center of the Korea Gas Safety Corporation in Wanju-gun, North Jeolla Province, together with the North Jeolla Regional Headquarters and North Jeolla Western Branch of the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency.

S.O.S. Talk is a joint roundtable that has been co-hosted by the Small and Medium Business Ombudsman and the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency since 2015 to resolve regulatory difficulties faced by local SMEs and startups. This event was attended by more than 20 people, including Ombudsman Choi, representatives of SMEs and startups in North Jeolla, Jeon Sehee, Head of the North Jeolla Regional Office of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and Cho Hangyo, Director of Human Resources Development at the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency. They discussed ways to improve unreasonable regulations affecting SMEs in the field.

In particular, the event focused on listening to regulatory challenges and difficulties faced by SMEs leading future high-tech industries such as hydrogen and secondary batteries, which are among the five core industries of North Jeolla. Startup A, which produces hydrogen fuel cell components in Jeonju, North Jeolla, requested regulatory improvements, stating, "When manufacturing products for research and development purposes, please allow the legal inspection of hydrogen equipment to be omitted or simplified." The company explained, "We are conducting R&D on water electrolysis equipment using various materials for electrolyte membranes, but even prototypes for efficiency measurement are subject to mandatory legal inspections, resulting in additional time and costs."

In response, the Ombudsman submitted a regulatory improvement proposal to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, which is the responsible ministry. The ministry replied positively, stating that a research project is currently underway to rationalize regulations on hydrogen equipment for research and development purposes, and that after concrete improvement measures are developed, they plan to share the details through public hearings and gather opinions to promote institutional reforms.

Next, Company B, which specializes in secondary battery recycling, requested improvements to the waste classification standards for used batteries. The company emphasized the need for adjustments to the waste classification system and support such as subsidies for the battery recycling industry, in order to promote the continued growth of the waste battery market and the recycling of secondary batteries. The Ministry of Environment, which is responsible for this matter, stated that it is currently reorganizing the classification system for battery waste based on criteria such as hazard, volume, and value, considering the recent increase in various types of battery waste. The ministry also announced plans to review support measures such as subsidies for battery recycling.

In addition, participants proposed various regulatory improvements and solutions to on-site difficulties, including: the introduction of user self-refueling standards at hydrogen fueling stations; relaxation of permitting standards for hydrogen fueling station (storage) facilities; and easing of requirements for appointing safety managers related to hydrogen equipment manufacturing.

At the event, Cho Hangyo, Director of Human Resources Development at the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency, stated, "Going forward, we will continue to serve as a bridge by working closely with the Ombudsman at the frontlines of SMEs and startups to ensure that on-site difficulties are reflected in policy." Ombudsman Choi said, "We will continue to expand communication focused on specialized industries in each region to improve unreasonable regulations and resolve difficulties experienced by companies in the field," adding, "I hope this roundtable will lead to substantial regulatory innovation in North Jeolla's core industries."

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