'Personnel Regulation' Easing for National Heritage Restoration Industry

National Heritage Administration to Enforce Revised Decree from January 20
Workforce Replenishment Period Extended from One Month to Two Months

Regulations on hiring technical personnel, which have long hindered small-scale national heritage restoration companies, will be significantly eased. The industry, which has often been forced to shut down due to the inability to secure specialized personnel in time, is expected to catch a break.

The National Heritage Administration announced on January 14 that it will implement a revision of the 'Enforcement Decree of the National Heritage Restoration Act' starting January 20, extending the deadline for national heritage restoration companies to fill technical personnel vacancies from the current one month to two months.

This measure reflects the harsh realities on the ground. The national heritage restoration market is smaller than other construction sectors, and there are severe regional disparities in the availability of technicians and skilled workers, resulting in chronic labor supply imbalances. Nevertheless, the previous law required companies to fill vacancies within 30 days.

The industry has criticized this as an excessively harsh regulation, noting that the deadline for filling vacancies in the construction and information and communications sectors is 50 days. In fact, the short deadline has threatened the survival of many companies. According to an analysis by the National Heritage Administration, of the 136 business suspension orders issued by local governments over the past five years, approximately 76% (103 cases) were due to failure to meet registration requirements, such as securing technical personnel or capital.

An official from the National Heritage Administration emphasized, "With this regulatory rationalization, restoration companies will be able to establish a more stable operational foundation," adding, "Improved business conditions will directly lead to enhanced quality in national heritage restoration."