Oh Sehoon: "Outdated Regulations Shackle Seoul... Regulatory Innovation 365 Days a Year"

by Bae Kyunghwan

Published 20 Aug.2025 10:00(KST)

Updated 20 Aug.2025 10:19(KST)

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'Regulatory Innovation 365 Project' Announced
Transition to a Year-Round Regulatory Reform System
Expert-Led Discovery Group Reviews Regulations
Comprehensive Review of Local Ordinances... Abolition and Simplification

Seoul City will operate a regulatory discovery system that allows citizens and professional organizations from various sectors to participate directly, running 365 days a year. The goal is to move away from the administration-led approach, which was only operated during specific periods, and to swiftly eliminate regulations that citizens and businesses actually feel, thereby enhancing effectiveness.

On August 20, at Seoul City Hall, Mayor Oh Sehun announced the 'Regulatory Innovation 365 Project,' stating, "We will create a Seoul that revives the economy and restores livelihoods through regulatory innovation." This announcement comes just 50 days after the launch of the 'Regulatory Innovation Planning Office,' a director-level (Grade 3) dedicated organization, the first of its kind among local governments nationwide.

Seoul Mayor Oh Sehun is holding a press briefing on the 'Regulation Innovation 365 Project' at the Seoul City Hall briefing room in Jung-gu, Seoul on August 20, 2025. Photo by Jo Yongjun

The core of the project is to pursue regulatory deregulation throughout the year, rather than only on an issue-by-issue or period-by-period basis. Until now, regulatory reviews were conducted only during periods such as the '100-Day Regulatory Deregulation Intensive Promotion Period' or the 'Citizen Grand Debate for Livelihood Improvement through Regulatory Deregulation.' Now, Seoul will shift to a constant monitoring system.

First, a regulatory discovery system involving citizens and professional organizations from various sectors will be established. The initiative will start with the operation of a 'Regulatory Discovery Group' composed of 200 citizens from diverse fields. In addition, about 200 professional organizations, such as the Korea Institute of Architects and the Federation of Microbusinesses, will participate through the 'Professional Organization Regulatory Innovation Hotline.' Proposals from the Regulatory Discovery Group will be swiftly reviewed by relevant departments and experts, and feasible suggestions will be promptly reflected in policy, aiming for highly effective regulatory innovation that citizens can feel.

Seoul City will also conduct a comprehensive review of the 772 regulations registered in its local ordinances, with the aim of abolishing or simplifying unnecessary or excessive regulations. Some regulations are being considered for conversion to a 'negative regulation' approach, which allows activities in principle and prohibits only exceptional cases.

A system will also be established to immediately review discovered regulatory improvement tasks. The process will involve three stages: selection and specification, departmental review and stakeholder consultation, and expert evaluation, after which the innovation plan will be finalized. Four expert advisory panels-Culture & Economy, Urban Planning & Construction, Safety & Transportation, and Welfare & Environment-each consisting of about 10 experts and led by the Seoul City 'Regulatory General Manager,' will review and assess regulatory improvement plans for each sector.

The legal and institutional foundations to support these efforts will also be strengthened. For industries that play a key role in the growth of Seoul's economy, such as new industries and the livelihood economy, the 'Seoul-Style Livelihood Regulation Sandbox' will be introduced to allow more flexible and adaptable application of regulations through experimental special exemptions. A representative example is the expansion and reorganization of the current 'Ordinance on the Establishment and Operation of the Regulatory Reform Committee' into the 'Seoul Metropolitan City Basic Ordinance on Regulatory Reform.' This will include major contents related to regulatory innovation, such as the concept of regulation, the legal basis for the Seoul-Style Livelihood Regulation Sandbox, and the operation of the expert advisory panels.

To review, select, and improve unreasonable regulations, Seoul will also develop the 'Seoul-Style Regulatory Innovation Checklist,' which will include specific review criteria and a manual. The checklist will be used for preliminary evaluation and review of regulatory improvements, including the necessity of maintaining regulations, cost-effectiveness, and administrative burden.

Additionally, for the first time in the country, Seoul will establish a response system that goes beyond individual departments or the city level to cooperate with the central government, district offices, the city council, and other cities and provinces. Regulations that can be applied nationwide will be discussed through public hearings or forums, and Seoul plans to propose legislative amendments to the central government in cooperation with the city council, the council of city and provincial governors, and professional organizations. Through the operation of the 'City-District Regulatory Discovery Council,' composed of the Seoul Regulatory Innovation Planning Office and district regulatory directors, a system for discovering regulations will be put into action.

Mayor Oh stated, "Outdated and rigid regulations inconvenience citizens' daily lives and hinder business challenges, ultimately acting as shackles that restrict Seoul's future. By applying regulatory innovation to Seoul's administration 365 days a year, we will develop a virtuous cycle model that leads to real changes in citizens' lives and drives the development of Seoul."