Parliament Passes Over 70 Non-Contentious Bills
Parliament Passes Over 70 Non-Contentious Bills, Including 'Emergency Room Shuttle Prevention Act'
On October 26, 2025, the National Assembly passed a large batch of over 70 non-contentious bills closely related to the lives of citizens during a plenary session. These bills, which had previously faced sluggish progress in the Assembly, are significant in that they were processed collectively through bipartisan agreement. In particular, the revised Emergency Medical Services Act aimed at resolving the 'emergency room shuttle' issue is generating high expectations among the public. Furthermore, amendments to the Commercial Building Lease Protection Act to protect commercial tenants, the Act on Promotion of Litigation concerning illegal deepfake composites and child sexual exploitation materials, and the Act on the Establishment of Labor Day to change the name of 'Worker's Day' were also passed, which are expected to have a positive impact across various sectors of society.
Emergency Medical Service and Tenant Protection Laws Strengthened
One of the key bills passed during this National Assembly plenary session is the revised Emergency Medical Services Act, which aims to improve the 'emergency room shuttle' phenomenon where emergency patients are unable to receive appropriate treatment and are transferred between multiple hospitals. This bill strengthens the obligation to accept emergency patients and expands information sharing between emergency medical institutions. The revised Emergency Medical Services Act passed with overwhelming support, with 260 votes in favor and 1 abstention out of 261 members present. It is expected that the passage of this bill will create an environment where emergency patients can receive prompt and appropriate emergency care. In addition, the revised Commercial Building Lease Protection Act to protect the rights and interests of commercial tenants also passed the plenary session. This bill requires landlords to disclose details of management fees when requested by commercial tenants. It is expected to alleviate the burden on commercial tenants who have been facing difficulties due to opaque management fee operations. The revised Commercial Building Lease Protection Act passed unanimously with all 258 members present voting in favor, demonstrating a bipartisan consensus on protecting tenants.
Digital Sex Crime and Labor Environment Related Bills Passed
The revised Act on Promotion of Litigation, which strengthens the punishment for crimes related to illegal deepfake composites and child sexual exploitation materials, which have recently emerged as social problems, was also passed at this plenary session. This bill allows courts to order damages for the production and distribution of illegal deepfake composites or child sexual exploitation materials. The revised Act on Promotion of Litigation passed with 260 votes in favor and 1 abstention out of 261 members present. It is expected that practical remedies will be provided for victims of digital sex crimes. In addition, a bill with symbolic significance was also passed: the revised Act on the Establishment of Labor Day to change the name of 'Worker's Day' to 'Labor Day.' The name 'Worker's Day' has been consistently criticized for weakening workers' awareness of their rights, and it is expected that this revision will contribute to creating a social atmosphere that respects the value of labor and protects workers' rights and interests. The passage of this bill has been welcomed by the labor community.
Name Change of Carbon Neutrality Committee and Future Outlook
Meanwhile, the name of the 2050 Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth Committee, which was directly under the control of President Jae-myung Lee, has been changed to the National Climate Crisis Response Committee. This is interpreted as demonstrating the government's will to further emphasize the sense of crisis regarding climate change and to respond more proactively. It is expected that the change in the name of the committee will increase public interest in climate change issues and accelerate the promotion of related policies. The 70 or so bills passed during this National Assembly plenary session are expected to have a positive impact on the lives of citizens in various fields. In particular, practical improvements are expected in various fields, including emergency medical services, commercial building leases, digital sex crimes, and the labor environment. However, in order for the bills to operate properly and effectively in the field, the government's active implementation efforts and continued attention are needed. In addition, it will be necessary to continue to listen to the voices of the people and continuously discover and improve bills related to people's livelihoods.
