The 'Tada Ban Law' Stalls Again... Will It Be Postponed Until After the April General Election?

[Asia Economy Reporter Buaeri] The passage of the amendment to the Passenger Transport Service Act, commonly known as the 'Tada Ban Law,' has been delayed in the National Assembly, intensifying confusion within the industry. Some predict that it may be postponed until after the April general elections.

As of the 3rd, the Tada Ban Law passed the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee on the 6th of last month and is currently pending in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. The bill must pass the full meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee before it can be processed in the plenary session of the National Assembly, but the situation is far from straightforward. Opposition within the Legislation and Judiciary Committee against the Tada Ban Law is acting as a variable.

Song Ki-heon, the ruling party secretary of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "The Tada Ban Law is still a long way from passing," adding, "Opinions vary individually among lawmakers."

Some ruling party lawmakers are reportedly negative about the Tada Ban Law. Moreover, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee has yet to hold consultations between the ruling and opposition party secretaries, and no future meeting schedule has been set.

Within the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, there is cautious speculation that the Tada Ban Law may be postponed until after next year's general elections. A committee official said, "Considering the current situation in the National Assembly, the February extraordinary session seems the earliest possibility, but once preparations for the general elections begin, even that may not proceed smoothly, and it could end up being shelved." This suggests that the amendment's processing may be delayed until after the general elections.

The amendment centers on requiring platform transportation operators to secure vehicles and pay contribution fees when conducting transportation business. In the case of Tada, to continue operations, they must rent or purchase taxi licenses. The amendment is set to be enforced one year after promulgation, with a six-month grace period following enforcement.

In any case, Tada is in a difficult position. Ahead of the passage of the Tada Ban Law, the failure to attract overseas investment worth thousands of billions has made securing funds challenging. An industry insider said, "We cannot simply be happy about the delay," adding, "Unless a table is set up during this period for public hearings or to reconsider the bill, continuing in this state is meaningless."