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 Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods
 
This Amendment mandates a nutrition grading system under which the Minister of Food and Drug Safety designates nutrition grades and establishes the corresponding standards, requires nutrition-grade labeling for children’s preferred foods and other food products designated by Presidential Decree, and imposes administrative fines and business suspensions for failure to label the grade or violation of the requirements.
 
② Partial Amendment to the Act on Restriction on Special Cases Concerning Taxation

This Amendment allows six percent of safety-related expenditures (or 10% for small and medium enterprises) incurred by December 31, 2029 to be deducted from their income or corporate tax. Eligible expenditures include safety management costs, costs for safety and health measures required under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and investments in safety facilities.

2. Pending Bill(s)
 
③ Partial Amendment to the Distribution Industry Development Act

This Amendment lifts restrictions on operating hours and mandatory closing days for super supermarkets (SSMs), which are currently applied to both SSMs and large supermarkets, while gradually relaxing these regulations for superstores, such as large supermarkets.
 
3. Promulgated Bill(s)
 
④ Enforcement Decree of the Petroleum and Alternative Fuel Business Act

This Bill expands the eligibility for petroleum import surcharge refunds to include cases where natural gas (including LNG) is supplied as an industrial raw material. It also extends the refund period for petroleum products traded through the spot e-commerce market until December 31, 2027.

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

⑤ Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Rule of the Motor Vehicle Management Act

This Amendment expands the battery information provided to electric vehicle purchasers from six items to ten, including the battery manufacturer, country of origin, manufacturing date, product name, and identification number. It also raises the administrative fine imposed on vehicle manufacturers and sellers who fail to provide battery information or provide false information to up to KRW 10 million.

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

[Asia Business Daily] Government Promotes Right to Suspend Work … Construction Industry Raises Concerns Over Cost Burden on Main Contractors
[The Dong-a Ilbo] Shipbuilding Fatalities Likely to Hit Record High

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