As the first-ever Korean law firm to issue specialized legislative journals, D&A LLC has been publishing the monthly Policy & Business (P&B) Report since August 2019. The P&B Report provides analyses of plenary sessions of the National Assembly, as well as standing committee and subcommittee meetings. In addition, the firm has been co-hosting the Future Leaders Forum with the Herald Business, inviting chairpersons of standing committees to discuss relevant legislative issues and tasks.
 
As an extension of this service, D&A has also been issuing the Weekly Legislative Report, which covers various legal issues at the center of public debate along with editorials and columns on the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (“SAPA”) from major daily news outlets. The report will be released with an update on newly proposed or pending bills. Enclosed is this week’s legislative report, and please refer to the P&B Report for further details.
 
If you wish to subscribe to the P&B Report or have any other queries, please contact us at lc@draju.com.
 
 
1. Proposed Bill(s)
 
① Partial Amendment to the National Health Promotion Act
 
This Amendment provides for the imposition and collection of a sugar levy on sugar-sweetened beverages based on the sugar content per 100 liters, ranging from KRW 1,000 for products containing 1 kg or less of sugar to KRW 28,000 for those containing more than 20 kg of sugar.
 
② Class Action Act

This Amendment introduces a class action mechanism for damages arising from general torts by companies, thereby enabling effective remedies for large numbers of victims with small-value claims.

2. Pending Bill(s)
 
③ Partial Amendment to the Commercial Act

This Amendment mandates the cancellation of treasury shares within one year of acquisition and requires companies holding treasury shares as of the effective date of the Amendment to cancel such shares within 18 months of its enforcement.
 
3. Promulgated Bill(s)
 
④ Enforcement Decree of the Act on Support for Research and Development of Business-Affiliated Research Institutes, etc.
 
This Bill amends regulatory frameworks related to research premises, personnel, and organizational operation, with the aim of ensuring a more flexible and efficient operation of business-affiliated research institutes and research and development-dedicated departments.

4. Bill(s) Undergoing Pre-Announcement of Legislation/Administration

⑤ Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act and Partial Amendment to the Regulations on Financial Investment Business

This Amendment permits single-stock ETFs based on domestic blue chips to be listed publicly.

5. Serious Accidents Punishment Act ("SAPA") Related Editorials and Columns from Major Dailies
 

[Yonhap News] Labor Ministry and Eight Local Governments Sign MOU to “Address Blind Spots in Serious Accident Prevention”
[The Hankyoreh] Will the Effectiveness of Workers’ Right to Stop Work Be Strengthened? … National Assembly in Final Talks on Legal Revisions

*For more details, please download the PDF file attached.