South Korea Government Policy Update — 2026-04-25

Major Policy and Legislative Changes

🏠 Land, Infrastructure and Transport — Strengthening Support for Jeonse Fraud Victims

On April 23, the National Assembly passed 115 bills during a plenary session, including a measure regarding a minimum guarantee system for rental deposits for housing affected by Jeonse fraud. This support for victims was a core component of the legislative package.

🏥 Health and Welfare — National Medical Graduate School Establishment Act Passed

During the final April plenary session, the National Medical Graduate School Establishment Act was passed to train professionals in the public health and medical sectors. The bill, which includes a 15-year public service requirement, was approved alongside 103 other livelihood-related bills.

💊 Food and Drug Safety — AI Advertising Regulation and Essential Drug Supply

A "Safety Package" of bills related to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety passed the National Assembly. It includes the introduction of regulations to block false advertisements abusing artificial intelligence (AI) and mandates greater state responsibility for the supply of essential medicines, aiming to strengthen safety management for food, drugs, and narcotics.

👩‍⚕️ Employment and Welfare — 5 Administrative Task Bills Passed

A total of five bills—including the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act (2), the National Pension Act, the Equal Employment Act, and the Employment Insurance Act—proposed by Representative Seo Young-seok (Bucheon-si Gap) of the Democratic Party of Korea were passed. These are considered legislative measures to implement the Lee Jae-myung administration's policy tasks.

🏫 Education — 3 Bills Passed Supporting Education for Students with Migrant Backgrounds

Three bills, including the Special Foreign Language Education Act and the Youth Welfare Act, proposed by Representative Kim Yong-tae, were passed to support the education of students from migrant backgrounds.

🚨 Interior and Safety — Crackdown on Fraudulent Use of High-Oil-Price Relief Funds

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced a plan to crack down on and punish both users and merchants involved in the fraudulent circulation and trading of "high-oil-price relief funds." This measure aims to ensure the sound operation of the subsidy system.

Regulatory Improvements and Administrative Changes

🤖 New AI False Advertising Regulation

With the passage of the MFDS-related bills, new regulations will be established targeting false medical and food advertisements that abuse AI. This applies to advertising across the food, pharmaceutical, and narcotics sectors as part of the reinforced safety management system.

📋 Review of Advanced Strategic Industry Regulations

The Ministry of Economy and Finance stated that it is reviewing regulations on advanced strategic industries, regulations by company size, and support systems for SMEs to build an ecosystem where businesses can actively invest and grow sustainably.

🌾 Strengthening Supply Management of Agricultural Materials

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs officially announced that it will do its utmost to manage the supply of agricultural materials on-site to resolve difficulties for farms caused by a shortage of mulching vinyl.

Policy Impact and Outlook

• The implementation of the minimum guarantee system for Jeonse fraud victims is expected to ensure that tenants receive the minimum legal protection for their deposits. The 115 bills passed will be promulgated and implemented sequentially.

• Following the passage of the National Medical Graduate School Establishment Act, a new training system for public health and medical professionals will be established, and a support program conditioned on 15 years of public service will begin operation.

• The MFDS AI advertising regulation is expected to reduce consumer harm from false or exaggerated medical advertisements, and the state's responsibility for the stable supply of essential medicines will be legally clarified.

• The crackdown on the fraudulent use of high-oil-price relief funds will make both merchants and users subject to punishment, aiming to prevent moral hazard within the subsidy system.