The previously complicated process of canceling mobile services is expected to be simplified in the near future. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 4 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s government announced a sweeping plan to eliminate dozens of everyday regulations deemed outdated or unreasonable, including cumbersome telecom service cancellations and male-only membership in a national civic group.
The reforms were unveiled Tuesday at a policy coordination meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, following the government’s third “Absurd Regulations Contest,” which invited citizens to identify rules that cause unnecessary inconvenience. Officials said 51 such cases will be addressed.
The top-ranked grievance involved the difficulty of canceling mobile or internet service contracts. While sign-ups are simple, cancellations often require a store visit or multiple online steps culminating in a mandatory phone consultation. The Korea Communications Commission said it will urge carriers to drop the phone-call requirement by year’s end.
Another widely criticized rule prevented apartment complexes from sharing CCTV footage with police for crime reporting, citing privacy law conflicts. The Personal Information Protection Commission plans to amend legal provisions next year to allow such sharing for public safety.
The logos of South Korea’s three major carriers — KT Corp. (L), SK Telecom Co. (C) and LG Uplus Corp. (R) — are shown in this file photo taken July 8, 2020. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The government also targeted gender restrictions in the Saemaul Undong (New Village Movement), a civic organization launched in the 1970s. Its bylaws had limited membership to men over 20, excluding women entirely. The Ministry of the Interior said it will revise the rules later this year to open membership to both genders.
Additional changes include allowing residents in rural areas to use local currency vouchers at Nonghyup Hanaro Mart stores — often the only retail option in farming communities but previously excluded under spending rules.
“By listening directly to citizens, we aim to make daily life more convenient and regulations more rational,” said Son Dong-gyun, head of regulatory reform at the Office for Government Policy Coordination.
The reforms reflect Seoul’s broader attempt to align governance with shifting social norms, consumer rights, and regional realities, while shedding vestiges of rules that critics say no longer fit modern life.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
