Emergency patient transport. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 4 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s Cabinet approved a series of legislative revisions on Tuesday, including a law aimed at preventing “emergency room carousel” (being repeatedly sent from one ER to another) and protecting civil servants who take proactive administrative action.
The revised Emergency Medical Service Act requires hospitals to set up dedicated phone lines between emergency departments and 119 paramedic units, allowing for faster coordination when transferring critical patients.
Hospitals will also be required to publicly share information on their staffing, equipment, and capacity through the national emergency medical information network. The law takes effect in May 2026.
The Cabinet, chaired by President Lee Jae Myung, also passed an amendment to protect government employees who make proactive administrative decisions. Under the revision, every public institution must appoint a “proactive administration officer.”
Civil servants who face disciplinary or legal action while carrying out approved policies will be eligible for legal and financial assistance, and those acting in line with the recommendations of a proactive administration committee may be exempt from internal or state audits.
The move follows President Lee’s July directive to “reshape organizational culture and systems so that public officials can act creatively and boldly.”
Other measures approved include amendments to close loopholes in commercial rent laws, preventing landlords from sidestepping the legal 5 percent rent increase cap by raising maintenance fees instead. Landlords will now be required to include maintenance fees in standard contracts and disclose detailed breakdowns to tenants upon request.
Additionally, Labor Day, currently recognized as “Workers’ Day,” will officially be renamed “Labor Day” starting in 2026.
Several social welfare bills were also passed, including measures to increase state subsidies for childcare centers in regions with population decline, provide lifelong education opportunities for people with disabilities, and exempt student loan interest for young adults who grew up in childcare facilities.
A total of 73 legislative bills and three presidential decrees were approved during the Cabinet session.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
