Revised Enforcement Decrees of the Living Logistics Service Act and the Transportation Vulnerable Act
Approved at the Cabinet Meeting on the 7th... Effective from the 17th
Individuals with criminal records such as sex crimes or drug offenses
Prohibited from employment as 'Riders' or 'Disabled Call Taxi Drivers' for 2 to 20 years
A 'rider's motorcycle placed in front of the Woowa Brothers headquarters in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
Sex offenders and other violent criminals will be prohibited from working as riders on delivery platforms for up to 20 years.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 7th that the revised enforcement decree of the "Living Logistics Service Industry Development Act (Living Logistics Service Act)" was approved at the Cabinet meeting. According to this revision, individuals with a criminal record will be barred from engaging in small parcel delivery agency services for 2 to 20 years, depending on the severity of their crimes.
The small parcel delivery agency service refers to delivery platform businesses that deliver goods by signing transportation consignment contracts with certified small parcel delivery agency operators under the Living Logistics Service Act. As of this date, there are nine companies including Woowa Brothers and Coupang Eats Service.
Under this revision, delivery platform workers who have disqualifying criminal records identified through inquiries with the police or other agencies must have their consignment contracts terminated. Additionally, if a business operator fails to verify the criminal records of workers or does not terminate the contract within one month after confirming such records, they will be subject to a fine of up to 5 million KRW.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will also establish specific registration requirements for the use of drones and outdoor mobile robots in parcel delivery services. When using drones, operators must register as ultra-light aircraft operators under the "Aviation Business Act" and meet the necessary operational requirements. When using outdoor mobile robots, operators must obtain operation safety certification under the "Intelligent Robot Act."
On the same day, the Ministry also approved the revised enforcement decree of the "Act on the Promotion of Convenience for Transportation Disadvantaged Persons (Transportation Disadvantaged Act)," which will restrict employment of violent criminals, including sex offenders, as drivers of special transportation means such as disabled call taxis. Employment will be prohibited for 2 to 20 years depending on the severity of the crime.
According to this revision, city and county governments or special transportation consignment agencies must verify applicants' disqualification status through the local police station when hiring drivers.
The scope of education for transportation disadvantaged services will also be expanded. Previously, education was provided to low-floor bus, aviation, railway crew, and ship crew members, but now all bus drivers?including city, intercity, village, charter, and demand-responsive buses?as well as taxi drivers must receive training. The education consists of a 2-hour session once a year covering understanding of transportation disadvantaged persons and emergency response methods.
Meanwhile, the Ministry has created new survey items for the Transportation Welfare Index to allow a comprehensive assessment of the mobility convenience and pedestrian environment levels of passenger facilities such as buses, subways, terminals, and railway stations. The index evaluates installation rates of facilities like seats for transportation disadvantaged persons and handrails, the status of transportation disadvantaged service education, and local government budgets for transportation disadvantaged persons. The Transportation Welfare Index will be published in the second half of this year in conjunction with the "2024 Survey on Mobility Convenience for Transportation Disadvantaged Persons," in consultation with Statistics Korea.
The two approved revisions will take effect on the 17th of this month. However, the provisions regarding the survey items and methods of the Transportation Welfare Index in the revised enforcement decree of the Transportation Disadvantaged Act will be implemented starting from July 17.
Um Jeong-hee, Director of the Transportation and Logistics Office at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, "Through this revision, services for transportation disadvantaged persons will improve, and safer small parcel delivery agency services will be provided."
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