License Suspension, Travel Ban, and Public Disclosure for Non-Payment of Child Support... Effective from the 13th

Enforcement Decree of Child Support Act Passed at Cabinet Meeting
Specifies Exceptions for License Suspension, Travel Ban, and Public Disclosure

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Debtors who intentionally fail to pay child support despite court detention orders will face sanctions such as driver's license suspension, travel bans, and public disclosure of their names starting from the 13th.

On the 6th, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced that a partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the "Act on Securing and Supporting Child Support Enforcement" has passed the Cabinet meeting. This follows the amendments to the Child Support Enforcement Act in June last year and January this year, specifying sanctions and exceptions in detail.

From the 13th, those who fail to comply with child support payments despite detention orders will be subject to driver's license suspension requests and public disclosure. However, exceptions may be granted through review by the Child Support Deliberation Committee if the driver's license is used for direct livelihood purposes such as taxi driving.

Public disclosure excludes child support debtors who are missing, declared bankrupt, or have received a decision to commence rehabilitation procedures. If more than half of the child support debt has been paid and a plan for the remaining amount has been submitted, the committee may review and exclude the debtor from public disclosure.

Travel ban requests apply to child support debtors with debts of 50 million KRW or more, or those with debts of 30 million KRW or more who have traveled abroad three or more times in the past year or stayed abroad for six months or longer. Exceptions to travel bans may be requested if it is recognized that there is no risk of evasion for reasons such as the death of a direct ascendant or descendant, business contract signing, or medical treatment.

When providing temporary child support payments to creditors experiencing financial difficulties, if the creditor's financial account is seized, payments can also be deposited into an account under the child's name. In cases where temporary child support has been urgently provided to single parents, the amendment allows for compulsory collection from the child support debtor through the court, detailing procedures such as notification of compulsory collection and payment methods.