Bill was passed to prevent fires in traditional markets and secure safety.
- Division
- International Cooperation Division
- Date
- 2018.06.11
- Writer
- Deputy Director Young Soon Lee
- File
- Headline
- The National Assembly passed the bill of the amendment on the special act on traditional markets and business districts on May 28th.
□ The National Assembly passed the bill for the Amendment to the Special Act on the Development of Traditional Markets and Shopping Districts (the “Traditional Markets Act”) during its May 28 plenary session.
ㅇ The amendment is expected to improve fire prevention and safety practices in traditional markets, assist with the systemic development of traditional markets in metropolitan areas, and streamline the reporting process for opening temporary markets.
□ The old Act lacked provisions on merchant associations’ and market managers’ responsibilities for fire prevention and safety management,* thereby effectively making fire prevention in traditional markets the sole responsibilities of the central and local governments. The old Act only provided for the fire prevention responsibility of market managers and did not contain any provision on fire-related responsibilities of merchant associations. This year’s amendment expressly lists “establishment and operation of systems for fire prevention and fire safety management” as responsibilities of merchant associations and market managers in traditional markets. This is expected to reinforce the responsibilities of merchant organizations in fire prevention and safety, as well as enhance the overall fire safety management practices.
□ Moreover, under the old Act, Business District Management Organizations could only be established in si/gun/gu (cities and counties). The new amendment makes it possible to set up organizations in metropolitan areas. Thus, the amendment allows for more efficient implementation and management of business district revitalization programs for metropolitan areas in terms of connection, specialization, and integration of different business areas and districts.
□ As for temporary markets, the amendment provides that a report for opening a temporary market is deemed to be accepted if the relevant local government fails to notify its receipt by a prescribed date. The new provision ensures speedy processing of the reports and makes it possible to predict when the processing will be complete, thereby offering more convenience for petitioners.
□ Mr. Lee Hohyeon, MSS Director for Shared Growth Policy, said that the markets with merchant organizations actively engaged in fire prevention and safety management efforts would be first considered for modernization, parking space, and management innovation programs. As for the business district revitalization programs, the director said that the programs would first target traditional markets with shared growth agreements that provide for restraints on rent raise, and a higher priority will be given to markets with high levels of cooperation for shared growth. The approved bill will be announced and finalized after the President’s approval, and it will take effect six months after the announcement.
ㅇ The amendment is expected to improve fire prevention and safety practices in traditional markets, assist with the systemic development of traditional markets in metropolitan areas, and streamline the reporting process for opening temporary markets.
□ The old Act lacked provisions on merchant associations’ and market managers’ responsibilities for fire prevention and safety management,* thereby effectively making fire prevention in traditional markets the sole responsibilities of the central and local governments. The old Act only provided for the fire prevention responsibility of market managers and did not contain any provision on fire-related responsibilities of merchant associations. This year’s amendment expressly lists “establishment and operation of systems for fire prevention and fire safety management” as responsibilities of merchant associations and market managers in traditional markets. This is expected to reinforce the responsibilities of merchant organizations in fire prevention and safety, as well as enhance the overall fire safety management practices.
□ Moreover, under the old Act, Business District Management Organizations could only be established in si/gun/gu (cities and counties). The new amendment makes it possible to set up organizations in metropolitan areas. Thus, the amendment allows for more efficient implementation and management of business district revitalization programs for metropolitan areas in terms of connection, specialization, and integration of different business areas and districts.
□ As for temporary markets, the amendment provides that a report for opening a temporary market is deemed to be accepted if the relevant local government fails to notify its receipt by a prescribed date. The new provision ensures speedy processing of the reports and makes it possible to predict when the processing will be complete, thereby offering more convenience for petitioners.
□ Mr. Lee Hohyeon, MSS Director for Shared Growth Policy, said that the markets with merchant organizations actively engaged in fire prevention and safety management efforts would be first considered for modernization, parking space, and management innovation programs. As for the business district revitalization programs, the director said that the programs would first target traditional markets with shared growth agreements that provide for restraints on rent raise, and a higher priority will be given to markets with high levels of cooperation for shared growth. The approved bill will be announced and finalized after the President’s approval, and it will take effect six months after the announcement.