National
Legal updates in Korea In series
A monthly legal briefing from the Ministry of Government Legislation.
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Courts and Law
Korea helps single parents receive better child support
● Updated law: Act on Enforcing and Supporting Child Support Payment What it does: Allows the government to pay the custodial parent in advance to help cover the costs of raising a child Took effect: July 1 On July 1, a new system for child support payments was launched under a revision to the related law. The state-run Korean Child Support Agency is now able to pay a sum of child support to the custodial parent in advance and later collect the money from the noncustodial parent. If the noncusto
July 27, 2025 - 13:59:56
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Courts and Law
Korea lowers cap on student loan interest rates
● Updated law: Special Act on Income Contingent Loan What it does: Lowers the interest rate cap on income-contingent loans Took effect: June 19 Starting on June 19, the interest rate cap on income-contingent loans will be lowered to reduce the burden of repayment for college graduates. Previously, the interest rate was capped at 120 percent of the average yield of five-year state bonds for the three years preceding each semester. This will be reduced to 110 percent. This is the first reduction i
June 25, 2025 - 13:41:20
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Courts and Law
Travel ban lifted for South Korean men before military duty
● Updated law: Enforcement Decree of the Passport Act What it does: Eases regulation on the issuance of multientry passports to South Koreans who did not complete their military service Took effect: May 1 Since May 1, those who have not completed their mandatory military service are eligible to receive multientry passports valid for 10 years, the same as the general public. This is because the regulation that limited the validity of multientry passports for those who had not completed mandatory
May 28, 2025 - 12:44:42
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Courts and Law
Bolstering protection for minors against digital sex crimes
● Updated law: Act on the Protection of Children and Youth Against Sex Offenses What it does: Allows investigators to launch emergency undercover investigations into suspected digital sex crimes targeting underage victims Took effect: April 17 To combat an increase in digital sex crimes, South Korea has been working in recent years to bolster regulations and punishments by passing several related bills. The latest such law to take effect is an amendment to the Act on the Protection of Children a
April 22, 2025 - 14:50:05
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Courts and Law
Helping young single parents return to education
● Updated law: Single-parent Family Support Act What it does: Expands state financial support options for single parents aged 24 or younger Took effect: March 4 Single parents aged 24 or younger are now eligible to receive state financial support to pursue more than one diploma upon returning to education. Previously, young single parents could only receive support for one type of diploma or school equivalency examinations or similar programs. They are now eligible to receive support while takin
March 23, 2025 - 14:52:38
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Courts and Law
Korea beefs up safety inspections of EV batteries
● Updated law: Motor Vehicle Management Act What it does: Allows government to manage and track EV batteries to bolster safety Took effect: Feb. 17 Starting Feb. 17, automakers are required to obtain government certification of the safety of batteries used in their electric vehicles. In addition, automakers must assign an identification number to each individual EV battery. The system will allow the government and automakers to manage and track each battery from production to disposal. The syste
Feb. 25, 2025 - 15:08:36
