[Changes in the Second Half of the Year] Landlords Must Provide 'Housing Deposit' and 'Tax Payment Certificate' When Signing Contracts

Administrative Safety, Education and Childcare Families, Health and Welfare Sectors
Government Establishes New Obligation for Lessors to Provide Information
Unification of Civil and Administrative Standards by Age
Strengthening Punishment for Stalking Crimes
Enhanced Regulation of 'Albakgi Tents' at Over 280 Beaches

From now on, when signing a lease contract, the lessor must provide the tenant with information on the housing deposit and tax payment certificates. This new obligation for lessors to present information was established by the government to prevent jeonse fraud and to better protect tenants' deposits.

According to the government’s publication on the 30th titled “Changes Starting from the Second Half of 2023,” when concluding a lease contract, the lessor must present the tenant with information such as the priority deposit on the housing and tax payment certificates pursuant to the National Tax Collection Act and Local Tax Collection Act. The lessor can fulfill this presentation obligation by agreeing in advance to allow the tenant to review the above information before signing the lease contract.

It is also recommended to include special provisions allowing the tenant to cancel the contract without penalty if undisclosed priority lease information or unpaid/delinquent tax facts are confirmed. Additionally, tenants will be able to complete the registration of lease rights even before the lessor is notified of the lease rights registration order, which is expected to make moving residences more flexible.

The government will also strengthen penalties for stalking crimes, which have a high potential to lead to serious offenses. With the passage of amendments to the “Stalking Punishment Act” and the “Sexual Violence Punishment Act” in the National Assembly plenary session, stalking offenders can now be punished regardless of the victim’s consent. Furthermore, acts such as distributing the victim’s personal information or location information online or impersonating them will be newly classified as “online stalking” and subject to punishment.

At Beaches, Management Authorities Can Retrieve 'Albakgi Tent' Items...Costs Must Be Paid to Get Them Back

Regulations will also be strengthened against the unauthorized abandonment of items such as so-called “Albakgi tents” at over 280 beaches nationwide. This is to resolve the inconvenience caused to beach users and nearby residents due to the increase in camping population and the long-term occupation of prime camping spots inside beaches with camping equipment. From now on, if items are left unattended at beaches, the beach management authority can immediately handle the items directly. To retrieve the items, the owner must pay the costs incurred for handling them.

The legal and social standards for age will also be unified based on the international age system. The partial amendment to the Administrative Procedures Act, which includes provisions to calculate age based on the full age counting the birth date and expressing it in years, came into effect on the 28th. Full age is calculated by subtracting the birth year from the current year and then subtracting one more year if the birthday has not yet occurred this year. From now on, unless otherwise specified, the age indicated in laws and regulations will be interpreted as full age even if there is no separate “full” notation.

CCTV Installed Inside Operating Rooms...Surgical Scenes Must Be Recorded Upon Patient Request

The government has mandated the installation of CCTV inside medical institution operating rooms starting September 25 to effectively prevent illegal acts that may occur during surgery. Surgical scenes must be recorded upon request by the patient or guardian. The recorded footage can only be viewed or provided with the consent of all individuals filmed, including patients and medical staff, and only for purposes such as criminal investigations, court proceedings, or medical dispute mediation or arbitration.

Outdoor mobile robots providing services such as logistics delivery and patrol will also be allowed to travel on sidewalks. With the amendment to the Road Traffic Act, outdoor mobile robots, which were previously classified as “vehicles” under the Road Traffic Act and prohibited from sidewalk travel, will now be permitted to use sidewalks. However, a definition of “operator” who controls and manages the outdoor mobile robots and compliance requirements have been newly established, and operators may be fined for traffic law violations.