Ministry of Justice to Push for Comprehensive Revision of Civil Law After 65 Years Since Enactment

The Ministry of Justice is undertaking a major revision of the Civil Code for the first time in 65 years.

On the 16th, the Ministry of Justice announced that it held the 'Civil Code Revision Committee Appointment Ceremony' at the government Gwacheon complex's main conference room to promote a comprehensive revision of the Civil Code.

The Ministry of Justice formed the Civil Code Revision Committee with 22 experts, appointing former Supreme Court Justice Yang Chang-soo as chairman and former Supreme Court Justice Kim Jae-hyung as review chairman.

Enacted in 1958, the Civil Code has remained largely unchanged for 65 years. As a result, there have been criticisms that it fails to reflect the changed social and economic realities and global standards. Previously, in 1999 and 2009, the Ministry of Justice also formed Civil Code Revision Committees to promote amendments. At that time, they prepared amendment bills dealing with issues directly related to people's lives, such as the age of majority and the adult guardianship system. However, these bills ultimately failed to pass the National Assembly.

At the first meeting following the appointment ceremony, committee members discussed the direction for promoting the Civil Code revision and the operation plan for the committee. They decided to prioritize revising contract law, which has a close impact on citizens' daily lives. This Civil Code Revision Committee plans to revise the entire Civil Code, from general provisions to obligations, real rights, contracts, family relations, and inheritance, based on shortcomings and research results from previous legislative efforts.

Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon emphasized, "Modernizing the Civil Code is a critical national task that can no longer be postponed," adding, "This time, we will do our best to ensure that the revision results in actual legislative change."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice separately announced that it submitted a bill to the National Assembly on the 9th to introduce a Digital Content Contract Law as part of the Civil Code revision. The bill includes provisions obligating digital content providers to supply and update products with reasonable quality and establishes a two-year warranty liability period. It also creates a new right for digital content providers to modify content within a reasonable scope.

The Ministry of Justice explained, "Despite various legal issues arising related to digital content, it is difficult to apply the existing Civil Code contract regulations directly due to the unique characteristics of digital products," adding, "By introducing a Digital Content Contract Law into the Civil Code, the fundamental law of contracts, we aim to protect users' rights and enhance convenience."