[Changes in the Second Half of the Year] High-Level Radioactive Waste Facility Accelerates... Site Selection and Support Measures Prepared

Legal Framework for High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Facilities
National Backbone Power Grid Implementation and Support System
Stronger Penalties for Overseas Leakage of Core Technologies
SME Sales Standard Raised for the First Time in a Decade
Punitive Damages Cap for Trademark and Design Infringement Increased

The government is moving to establish a legal basis for selecting sites for management facilities to store and dispose of high-level radioactive waste, which is inevitably generated from the use of nuclear energy, and to provide support for the host regions.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance published a booklet titled "Changes Starting from the Second Half of 2025" on July 1, containing these measures.

The site for the management facility will be finally selected after receiving applications from cities, counties, and districts nationwide, followed by a two-stage site suitability survey and procedures such as a local resident vote.

Various forms of support, including special grants, will be provided to the host region and its surrounding areas. The newly established Management Committee will oversee all operations, with the goal of commencing operation of the interim storage facility by 2050 and the disposal facility by 2060. In addition, the government has decided that when spent nuclear fuel storage facilities are installed within nuclear power plant sites, the facility planner must gather opinions from local residents and prepare support measures for the surrounding area.

◆ Establishment of a National Implementation System for Backbone Power Grids of 345kV or Higher = With the Special Act on the Expansion of National Backbone Power Grids set to take effect on September 26, a national implementation system for the 345kV backbone grid will be established, and compensation and support for local residents will be expanded. The Power Grid Committee, chaired by the Prime Minister, will be responsible for selecting target projects and mediating conflicts, including site selection. Furthermore, with the enforcement of the special act, not only will there be special provisions for permits and expanded compensation, but the site selection period will also be shortened from the current 24 months to 18 months.

◆ Maximum Fine for Overseas Leakage of National Core Technologies Raised to 6.5 Billion Won = The amended Industrial Technology Protection Act, which will take effect on July 22, significantly improves the system for protecting national core technologies, strengthens penalties for violations, and enhances support for companies.

The amended law introduces a new system for confirming the possession of national core technologies, allowing the government to notify companies to apply for national core technology designation ex officio in cases where the risk of technology leakage is high and protection is deemed necessary, even if the company does not request it. The law also introduces a registration system for institutions holding national core technologies, requiring them to register both the technology and the institution. In addition, immediate suspension, prohibition, and restoration orders can be issued for illegal overseas mergers and acquisitions, and if these orders are not complied with, a compulsory fine of up to 10 million won per day can be imposed.

Penalties are also strengthened: the maximum fine for overseas leakage of national core technologies will be raised from the current 1.5 billion won to 6.5 billion won. The scope of punishment will be expanded from intent to purpose, so that even if a person merely knows that leaked technology will be used overseas, they can be punished. Brokers who introduce, arrange, or entice the overseas leakage of core technologies will also be punished as technology infringers. In addition, if industrial technology infringement is intentional, the limit for damages will be raised from the current three times to five times the actual damages.

◆ SME Sales Standard Raised to 180 Billion Won = To facilitate the growth ladder for companies, the sales range standard for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be raised for the first time in ten years.

The maximum sales standard for SMEs will be increased from 150 billion won to 180 billion won, the number of sales brackets will be expanded from five to seven, and the sales ceiling for 16 out of 44 industries will be raised by 20 to 30 billion won from the current level.

In addition, the sales standard for small enterprises, which is the standard for micro-enterprises, will be raised from a maximum of 12 billion won to 14 billion won, the number of sales brackets will be increased from five to nine, and the sales ceiling for 12 out of 43 industries will be raised by 500 million to 2 billion won from the current level.

As a result, approximately 5.73 million SMEs (63,000 medium-sized enterprises and 5.667 million small enterprises) will be able to continue benefiting from tax reductions, public procurement, and government support programs.

◆ Punitive Damages Cap for Trademark and Design Infringement Raised to Five Times = Starting July 22, the cap on punitive damages for intentional infringement of trademark and design rights will be raised from the current maximum of three times to five times the actual damages.

The strengthening of punitive damages aims to prevent malicious infringement of trademark and design rights and to enhance the effectiveness of remedies for victims. This will apply to violations occurring after July 22. With the introduction of fivefold punitive damages in the trademark and design fields, following patents, trade secrets, and idea theft, the overall level of protection for intellectual property rights is expected to rise.