ROK Government Policy Update — 2026-04-29

Key Policy and Legislative Changes

📺 Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism — Emergency Blocking of Illegal Content Sites

On the morning of April 27, 2026, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism officially announced a new system to immediately block sites distributing illegal content upon discovery. Following the announcement, major illegal webtoon and web novel platforms—including NewToki, ManaToki, and BookToki—voluntarily shut down on the same day.

🏠 Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee — Easing Urban Housing Restrictions

The bill to amend the Housing Act, which includes easing restrictions on the number of units for urban lifestyle housing, passed the subcommittee of the National Assembly’s Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee. The Korea Housing Builders Association and the Korea Housing Association officially welcomed the subcommittee's decision.

🔥 National Assembly Plenary Session — Bills on Forest Fires and Marine Debris Pass

Three safety and livelihood bills proposed by People Power Party Representative Seo Chun-ho (Sacheon, Namhae, Hadong, Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs) have passed the National Assembly. These include provisions for harsher penalties for those who accidentally start forest fires and state funding for marine debris cleanup.

🏛️ Ministry of the Interior and Safety — Spring Outing Support for the Mobility Impaired

In a policy briefing on April 27, 2026, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced a support program for the mobility impaired, allowing them to travel to national park attractions via wheelchair-accessible canoes.

Regulatory Improvements and Administrative Changes

📱 Ministry of Culture — Immediate Blocking System for Illegal Sites

Previously, administrative procedures caused delays in blocking illegal distribution sites. The new system from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism enables immediate emergency blocking. The voluntary closure of illegal platforms on the day of the announcement serves as a testament to the system's immediate effectiveness.

🏗️ Urban Lifestyle Housing — Easing Unit Count Regulations

The bill passed by the committee aims to improve regulations affecting the housing construction industry to boost supply. The Korea Housing Builders Association and the Korea Housing Association have expressed their support.

🌊 Marine Debris — Legal Basis for State Funding

The newly passed legislation provides a legal foundation for state funding of marine debris cleanup costs, which is expected to ease the financial burden on local governments managing marine environments.

Policy Impact and Upcoming Schedule

• The emergency blocking system for illegal content officially began on April 27. Its immediate impact in shutting down major illegal platforms is expected to help protect copyrights and normalize the content industry ecosystem.

• The Housing Act amendment to ease unit restrictions has passed the subcommittee and is awaiting further review by the full Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee and a final vote at the National Assembly plenary session.

• The three bills regarding forest fire penalties and marine debris funding have cleared the plenary session and are slated to go into effect following the official promulgation process.