The Korean Institute for Healthy Family Child Support Agency Call Center (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jun. 10 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea is set to introduce swifter penalties for non-custodial parents who defy court orders to pay child support, including travel bans and driver’s license suspensions if the amount in arrears is over 30 million won or they are delinquent on more than three payments.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced on June 9 that it is giving a legislative notice until July 8 for a partial amendment to the “Act on the Implementation of Child Support.”
The ministry explained, “The amendment clarifies the requirements for imposing penalties on non-custodial parents who have received orders to pay child support but have not complied.” It added that the amendment reflects the purpose of the revised “Act on the Implementation of Child Support,” which will take effect in September.
Previously, the ministry had announced that a revised version of the “Act on the Implementation of Child Support,” which simplifies the penalty procedures for parents who intentionally fail to pay child support, would be implemented in September.
The revised act includes provisions for easing the requirements to impose penalties, such as driver’s license suspension, travel bans, and public disclosure of offenders’ identities, as a means to enforce debt repayment for parents who continuously fail to pay child support.
While the current process involves an enforcement order, a confinement order, and then a penalty, the revised act will allow for immediate imposition of penalties after an enforcement order is issued.
The latest legislative notice specifically defines the criteria for “parents who continuously fail to pay child support,” a term mentioned in the revised act.
Citizens can view the legislative notice on the National Participatory Legislation Center website and submit comments on the amendment through mail, fax, or the center’s online platform.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
