Assigning 'Addresses' to Overpasses and Underground Passages

Three Subordinate Legislation Amendments to the Road Name Address Act Announced for Public Comment... Effective from June 9

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Addresses previously assigned to roads and buildings will now also be assigned to elevated roads and internal underground passageways of buildings.

On the 27th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that following the revision and promulgation of the Road Name Address Act last year, three subordinate laws including enforcement decrees reflecting delegated matters and improvements stipulated by the law will be publicly notified from February 28 to March 9 and will take effect from June 9.

The assignment of road names will be expanded beyond surface roads to include three-dimensional roads such as underground and elevated roads, as well as internal passageways like underground shopping mall corridors. Road names for surface roads will continue to be assigned as ‘daero, ro, gil’ as before, while three-dimensional roads and internal passageways will be assigned names that include designations indicating their road type and location.

A method for indicating road name addresses in areas where administrative districts have not been determined will also be established. In regions such as Saemangeum where administrative districts are yet to be decided, business area names will be used instead of administrative district names when using road name addresses. After administrative districts are determined, the names of the corresponding city/province and city/county/district will replace the business area names to prevent inconvenience caused by address changes.

Addresses will also be assigned to multi-use facilities such as elevators and evacuation facilities installed outdoors, as well as bus and taxi stops. The notation for object addresses will be 'administrative district + road name + object number + type of facility,' and the assignment criteria will apply the same method as for road name addresses. Expanding the current building-centered road name address system to an object address system for facilities is expected to make locating various frequently used facilities much more convenient.

Furthermore, when addresses change due to road name changes, a service will be implemented whereby the road name address department will collectively notify changes without requiring individuals to visit government offices in person, eliminating the inconvenience of having to apply for changes separately.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety expects that with the revision of the Road Name Address Act, rapid rescue and emergency activities will be possible in the event of disasters and emergencies, and a foundation will be established to apply core technologies of the 4th industrial revolution such as drone delivery and autonomous driving to daily life.

During the public notification period, the Ministry plans to collect and reflect various opinions from the public and related organizations in the revision. The revision can be viewed in the official gazette and on the Ministry of the Interior and Safety website, and opinions on the revision can be submitted via mail, fax, or through the Ministry’s website.