Insurance and Mutual Aid Now Mandatory for National Heritage Surveying, Design, and Supervision Businesses

'National Heritage Restoration Act' Amendment Passed by National Assembly
Improved System to Reduce Direct Liability for Businesses in Case of Accidents

Yonhap News Agency

The insurance and mutual aid blind spots in the field of national heritage restoration will be addressed.

On October 26, the National Assembly passed a partial amendment to the Act on the Repair of National Heritage and Related Matters, sponsored by Assemblyman Park Suhyeon. The amendment stipulates liability for damages and mandates insurance and mutual aid subscription for both surveying and design businesses and supervision businesses.

Previously, only national heritage restoration businesses were subject to liability for damages. Even if the government or local governments required insurance, surveying and design businesses and supervision businesses could not join mutual aid programs due to the lack of a legal basis. In the event of an accident, these businesses had to bear the losses entirely on their own.

Assemblyman Park explained, "The insurance and mutual aid system has now been clearly codified, similar to the Architects Act and the Fire Industry Promotion Act," adding, "Businesses that were previously excluded from the system will now have less of a burden."

The amendment also includes a legal basis for specialized training for 'national heritage restoration technicians.' The aim is to enhance the occupational skills of technical personnel and improve the professionalism of preservation and restoration projects.

Assemblyman Park stated, "The institutional foundation for the national heritage restoration industry has been further strengthened," and added, "I will work to systematically improve the preservation and management system for cultural heritage."