'Drug Solicitation Also Prohibited'... Narcotics Control Act Amendment Passed by National Assembly

Minister of Food and Drug Safety to Oversee Protection of Drug Addicts' Social Reintegration
Road Traffic Act Amendment Passed to Strengthen Penalties for Drug-Impaired Driving

The Narcotics Control Act amendment bill, which includes provisions to prohibit not only the mediation of narcotics sales but also acts of inducing or encouraging drug use, smoking, or ingestion, as well as establishing a management system for drug addicts, passed the National Assembly on the 13th.

On the same day, the National Assembly passed the amendment bill to the Narcotics Control Act, which strengthens measures to prevent drug addiction and protect the social reintegration and normal daily life of drug addicts.

With the revision of the law, the Minister of Food and Drug Safety is tasked with carrying out duties to maintain and protect the normal daily life of drug addicts after their social reintegration, and the bill also includes provisions to establish a management system for drug addicts.

The amendment to the Road Traffic Act, which strengthens penalties for drug-impaired driving, also passed the National Assembly. Under the current Road Traffic Act, drug-impaired driving is punishable by imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 10 million won. Under the revised Road Traffic Act, those caught driving under the influence of drugs will face imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 20 million won.

Meanwhile, the partial amendment to the Cosmetics Act, allowing braille and other aids for the visually and hearing impaired to be included when labeling cosmetic product information, the partial amendment to the Act on Fair Transactions in Subcontracting, which invalidates unfair special provisions in contracts between original contractors and subcontractors, and the partial amendment to the Personal Information Protection Act, which imposes management and supervision obligations on domestic agents for overseas businesses, also passed.

Yonhap News