South Korea Proposes Revisions to Passenger Transport Regulations

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) has announced proposed amendments to the Enforcement Decree of the Passenger Transport Service Act. These revisions aim to streamline regulations, enhance local autonomy, and improve the delivery of administrative services related to public transportation across South Korea.

Among the key changes, charter bus operators will see a significant reduction in regulatory burden. The mandatory pre-reporting of operational information and the requirement to display operational record certificates on vehicles will be abolished. Consequently, any penalties previously imposed for not complying with these reporting requirements will also be removed.

For individual taxi licenses, which are valuable assets in South Korea, the new proposals introduce greater flexibility for local governments. Upon the death of an individual taxi owner, the period for heirs to report the inheritance or transfer the license will now be determined by local ordinances (local government regulations). This period must fall within a range of 90 to 180 days, allowing cities and provinces to set deadlines that best suit their specific regional circumstances. Furthermore, the required period for meeting eligibility criteria to obtain an individual taxi license will also be extended, again to be set by local ordinances.

A significant aspect of the proposed amendments involves the decentralization of administrative powers. Some authority over passenger transport services, previously held by the MOLIT Minister or provincial governors, will be delegated to the mayors of large cities with populations exceeding 500,000. This move is designed to enable these major urban centers to provide more tailored and efficient transportation administrative services, including the handling of serious traffic accident reports, aligning with an amendment to the main Passenger Transport Service Act promulgated on December 2, 2025.

The public is invited to submit opinions on these proposed amendments. The public comment period runs from April 7, 2026, to May 18, 2026. Individuals, organizations, or groups can provide feedback online through the National Participatory Legislation Center at http://opinion.lawmaking.go.kr. Alternatively, written opinions can be mailed to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. For further details, inquiries can be directed to MOLIT’s Traffic Service Policy Division via phone at 044-201-3830 or email at windsock@korea.kr.

Source: 법제처 — Original Article (Korean)