National Assembly Passes Non-Contentious Bills Including Medical Dispute Mediation Act... Sejong City Act Approved Late (Comprehensive)

Plan to Increase Proportional Representation in Sejong City Council Passed Through Special Committee on Political Reform

The revised Medical Dispute Mediation Act, which stipulates that sentences for occupational negligence resulting in death or injury may be reduced if medical professionals fulfill their duty to explain in the case of medical accidents arising from high-risk essential medical procedures without gross negligence, passed the plenary session on April 23, 2026.

On this day, the National Assembly held a plenary session and passed the amendment to the Medical Dispute Mediation Act with 175 out of 177 attending lawmakers voting in favor (one abstention, one against). According to the revision, the state will provide compensation for inevitable medical accidents occurring during high-risk essential medical procedures. In cases of medical accidents without gross negligence, if the medical staff has fulfilled their duty to explain and holds liability insurance, the sentence for occupational negligence resulting in death or injury may be reduced. If the full amount of damages has been paid, prosecution itself may be restricted.

In addition, the plenary session also passed an amendment to the Framework Act on Education, which stipulates the establishment of policies to enhance the ability of all citizens to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) technology. An amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which changes the term "multicultural students" to "students with a migration background," was also passed.

Fines for illegal fishing by foreign vessels in the exclusive economic zone have been increased. The fine for unauthorized fishing was raised from 300 million won to 1.5 billion won; for violations such as disobeying a suspension of fishing activities, from 200 million won to 600 million won; and for violating an order to remain stationary, from 100 million won to 300 million won.

Yonhap News Agency

The amendment to the Act on the Protection and Support of Small Business Owners, which establishes the basis for supporting store demolition, management, legal and tax consulting, psychological counseling, and recovery programs for small business owners who have closed their businesses, also passed the plenary session.

The Act on the Establishment and Operation of the National Graduate School of Medicine, which is aimed at nurturing public health professionals by establishing and operating a national graduate school of medicine, was also approved by the plenary session. Graduates are required to serve in public healthcare for 15 years after obtaining a medical license.

The National Assembly also passed a resolution urging a state-level apology, restoration of honor for victims, and promotion of memorial projects regarding the 1980 Sabuk Incident.

Meanwhile, the plenary session approved the amendment to the Special Act on the Establishment of Sejong Special Self-Governing City (Sejong City Act), which increases the proportion of proportional representation members in the Sejong Special Self-Governing City Council from the current 10% to 14%. This is a legislative measure to supplement the system ahead of the June 3 local elections. Previously, on April 18, the National Assembly revised the Public Official Election Act to raise the ratio of proportional representation in metropolitan councils from 10% to 14%. However, since Sejong City is governed by the Sejong City Act rather than the Public Official Election Act, it was initially excluded from this increase. Subsequently, on April 20, Kang Junhyun, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, and independent lawmaker Kim Jongmin, whose constituency is Sejong City, jointly sponsored the amendment to the Sejong City Act. The revision was referred to the plenary session after being reviewed by both the Special Committee on Political Reform and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee within a single day.

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