Choi Sang-mok "National Assembly, Please Quickly Pass the Postponement Bill for the Serious Accident Punishment Act"

Choi Sang-mok, Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and Minister of Strategy and Finance, urged the National Assembly to swiftly pass an amendment bill that includes a two-year postponement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (SAP Act), which is set to take effect next week.

On the morning of the 23rd, Deputy Prime Minister Choi presided over a Cabinet meeting at the Government Complex Seoul and stated, "If the amendment bill does not pass the National Assembly this week, the SAP Act will apply to small and micro enterprises with fewer than 50 regular employees starting from the 27th, just four days later." This was the first time Deputy Prime Minister Choi presided over the Cabinet meeting since Prime Minister Han Duck-soo tested positive for COVID-19.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok is speaking at the Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 23rd. This Cabinet meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Choi due to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's sick leave caused by COVID-19. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

Currently, an amendment bill that postpones the application of the SAP Act to companies with fewer than 50 regular employees for two years is pending in the National Assembly. However, negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties have effectively broken down, putting the passage of the postponement bill at risk. If this happens, companies with fewer than 50 regular employees will also be subject to the SAP Act, which is expected to increase the management burden on small and micro enterprises.

Deputy Prime Minister Choi said, "There can be no disagreement on the importance of worker safety under any circumstances. However, the reality that small and micro enterprises are in poor conditions and still unprepared cannot be ignored." He added, "If the law is enforced in a situation where the field is not ready, it could lead to the production of only lawbreakers rather than the intended purpose of preventing accidents, shaking the very foundation of the companies’ survival. This amendment bill reflects the concerns from the field."

He continued, "Even if the application of the law is temporarily postponed, the government prepared the ‘Support Measures for Companies Vulnerable to Serious Accidents’ at the end of last month to ensure that the legislative intent can essentially be achieved. Economic organizations, including the Korea Federation of SMEs, have also prepared self-help measures and promised that this is the last postponement request." He urged, "Considering the difficult circumstances of our small and micro enterprises, I repeatedly ask the National Assembly to promptly process the amendment bill."

At the Cabinet meeting held that day, presided over by Deputy Prime Minister Choi, 38 bills for promulgation, 9 presidential decree drafts, 2 general agenda items, and 1 report were deliberated and resolved. Among the bills for promulgation were the partial amendment to the Space Development Promotion Act, which changes the chairperson of the National Space Committee to the President, and the Special Act on the Establishment and Operation of the Space and Aeronautics Administration, which stipulates necessary matters for the establishment, organization, and operation of the Space and Aeronautics Administration. The Space and Aeronautics Administration is scheduled to be established in May.

Deputy Prime Minister Choi explained, "Space is no longer an unknown world or the domain of only a few advanced countries. It is an area of infinite opportunities that contributes to the development of various advanced technologies and can provide a better life for humanity." He added, "Following the successful launches of our independently developed launch vehicle Nuri and the lunar orbiter Danuri, we have risen to become the seventh space power. We are now focusing on preparing for the space era with goals of lunar resource exploration in 2032 and Mars landing in 2045."

He said, "The Space and Aeronautics Administration will be a flexible research and development (R&D) organization centered on experts and projects, expected to play a pivotal role in making South Korea a space power." He urged, "I hope all ministries, led by the Ministry of Science and ICT, will join forces to ensure the smooth launch of the Space and Aeronautics Administration. In particular, please meticulously prepare in advance to avoid any setbacks in organization and budget securing, domestic and international talent recruitment, discovery of international cooperation projects, and preparation of subordinate laws and regulations."

The request for reconsideration of the ‘10·29 Itaewon Disaster Special Act,’ which was passed by the opposition-led National Assembly plenary session on the 9th, was not submitted to the Cabinet meeting that day.