"Small Lodging Businesses Should Pay TV License Fee for Only One Device"…Ministry of SMEs' 'Breaking Regulations' (Comprehensive)

Regulation Breakthrough Part 4 Held at DDP on the 23rd
Minister Lee Young: "We Must Resolve Boldly"

"If a lodging facility has 50 TVs, they have to pay the reception fee for all 50, which is a burden. Can't we charge only for one TV for small business owners?"

Jung Kyung-jae, Chairman of the Korea Accommodation Business Association, expressed this opinion on the 23rd at the 'Small Business Alley Regulation Breakthrough Part 4' held at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza Conference Hall in Seoul. While household TV reception fees are charged per household, lodging facilities are charged monthly for the number of TVs installed in each room.

Chairman Jung added, "Even if a lodging facility has 50 rooms, sometimes due to COVID-19 and other reasons, fewer than 10 rooms are booked, but the reception fee for 50 TVs is still charged."

On the 23rd, the event "4th Regulation Breakthrough, Small Business Alley Regulation Breakthrough" is taking place at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul.

The Small and Medium Business Ombudsman Support Group proposed to the Korea Communications Commission that reasonable improvements are necessary, but received a 'not possible' response. Yoon Bora, a specialist from the Ombudsman Support Group, said, "The KCC reviewed the matter and stated that 'the reception fee is a special charge imposed on those who possess a receiver to cover the expenses of a specific public interest project, namely public broadcasting.' They responded that 'the fee is charged regardless of whether the TV is watched and is not a usage fee, so factors like vacancy rates cannot be grounds for reduction.'

After the regulation breakthrough discussion that day, the National Jury conducted an online vote (100 people) and an on-site vote (50 people), resulting in 106 votes in favor and 38 against.

The second topic discussed was the necessity to abolish the floor area requirement for the meat instant sales and processing business. To sell processed meat products such as beef soup and sausages at butcher shops, registration as a 'meat instant sales and processing business' is required, and the business area must be at least 26.4㎡. However, even within the same industry, if only seasoned meat or ground processed meat (such as pork cutlets) is sold, there is no area restriction, raising fairness issues.

Jin Young-hoon, an officer from the Ombudsman Support Group, said, "There have been continuous field opinions that the area restriction makes it difficult for small business owners to start businesses, and we proposed improvements to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, but the ministry stated it is difficult to accept. The area requirement is a minimum standard for hygiene and safety, and products manufactured through heat treatment processes such as smoking and heating should, in principle, be made in specialized meat processing plants certified with HACCP for hygiene and safety management of livestock products."

The National Jury's vote on this issue was 94 in favor and 51 against, supporting the abolition of the area requirement.

The final discussion was on 'easing the registration requirements for sellers of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.' According to the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, to sell OTC drugs such as cold medicine outside of pharmacies, registration is only possible for stores operating 24 hours a day, year-round. The problem is that neighborhood supermarkets in areas with few pharmacies cannot sell these drugs, which is unreasonable.

A convenience store owner said, "With rising labor costs, some convenience stores do not operate 24 hours; they either operate unmanned at night or close entirely. This regulation blocks the sale of emergency medicine, so people living in neighborhoods with only one convenience store have to travel far to a 24-hour convenience store to urgently get emergency medicine."

The Ombudsman Support Group proposed this to the Ministry of Health and Welfare but received a response that 'acceptance is difficult.' The ministry also stated that 'since medicines are directly related to human life and health, the impact on health should take precedence over convenience.'

However, the National Jury emphasized the need for regulatory improvement by casting 131 votes in favor.

Minister Lee Young of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (center) is conducting the unveiling ceremony with Kim Han-gil, Chairman of the National Integration Committee (right), and Jeon Hyeong, Representative of the National Jury, at the "4th Regulation Breaking, Small Business Alley Regulation Breaking" event held on the 23rd at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul.
[Photo by Ministry of SMEs and Startups]

Lee Young, Minister of SMEs and Startups, said, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration aims to make small business owners, who account for 85% of Korea's industrial sector, the strong backbone of the Korean economy. Despite many efforts by the government and private sector, we have not yet returned to pre-COVID-19 conditions. The government believes that if there are regulations that frustrate the challenges and growth of merchants who have opened their stores in this difficult situation, those must be boldly resolved."

Minister Lee added, "Resolving issues related to small business owners, which are directly connected to the lives of many citizens, will clearly improve public convenience. I appreciate the growing interest from many people as the sessions continue." The regulation breakthrough series, which started in May, has so far addressed bio in the first session, everyday regulations in the second, and mobility in the third.

Kim Han-gil, Chairman of the National Integration Committee, who attended the event, said, "To help small business owners overcome difficulties and stand tall as the main players of our economy, it is essential to create a business-friendly environment for them. Instead of the government's concentrated support approach pursued by the previous administration, we need to move forward centered on the private sector and the market."