[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Starting next month, the responsibility of transportation operators to check the alcohol consumption status of their workers will be strengthened.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 7th that the revised Enforcement Decree of the Passenger Transport Service Act, which strengthens the penalties for passenger transport operators and transport workers who violate the duty to prevent drunk driving, passed the Cabinet meeting on the same day.
The revised Enforcement Decree of the Passenger Transport Service Act doubles the penalties if the transportation operator fails to check the alcohol consumption status of the transport worker before vehicle operation. Previously, the penalty was a business suspension of 30 to 90 days or a fine, but starting next month, it will change to 60 to 180 days or a fine. Furthermore, if the operator knowingly allowed a transport worker who was intoxicated to operate the vehicle, the penalty will be a business suspension of 90 to 180 days or a fine.
Transport workers who operate vehicles without informing the operator of their alcohol consumption will see their existing fine of 100,000 KRW increased to 500,000 KRW.
The revision also includes the transfer of the taxi driver qualification exam from the Taxi Association to the Korea Transportation Safety Authority starting next year. Accordingly, procedures such as detailed inspections, qualification exams, and criminal background checks will be unified, reducing the qualification acquisition period from about two weeks to 1-2 days. This will greatly improve convenience for applicants and is expected to significantly help in securing taxi and platform transport service drivers.
Additionally, the revision clearly defines the authority regarding changes to the business plans of Metropolitan Express-type city buses (M-buses). The Metropolitan Area Transport Committee will oversee the approval of business plan changes, while minor changes such as operation time adjustments and changes to offices or bus stops will be handled by the relevant local governments.
The provisions related to M-bus business plan changes, passed on this day, will take effect immediately upon publication in the official gazette. The drunk driving penalty-related provisions will be enforced one month after promulgation, and the taxi driver qualification exam provisions will be implemented from January 1 of next year.
A Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport official stated, "Since drunk driving by bus drivers can cause multiple casualties, we have strengthened the penalty standards this time," and added, "We will continue to actively promote institutional improvements to prevent bus safety accidents."
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