Korean Government Policy Updates — 2026-04-28

Key Policy and Legislative Changes

🏛 Ministry of the Interior and Safety — Patent Support for Job Inventions

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced a new policy to support the patenting of innovative job-related ideas that help ensure public safety. This was revealed through a policy briefing by 19 government ministries on April 28, 2026.

1 sources

sisunnews.co.kr

sisunnews.co.kr

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

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism declared the official implementation of an emergency blocking system for illegal content distribution sites on April 27. On the very day of the announcement, major illegal webtoon and web novel platforms—NewToki, ManaToki, and BookToki—voluntarily shut down.

⚖️ National Assembly — Three Safety and Livelihood Bills Passed

Three safety and livelihood bills sponsored by Representative Seo Cheon-ho (People Power Party, Sacheon·Namhae·Hadong) have passed the National Assembly. The legislation includes provisions for stricter punishment for those who accidentally cause forest fires and the establishment of state funding for marine debris collection.

🌍 EU Policy Shift and Analysis of Impact on Korea

The European Commission has declared 2026 a "year of strategic shift," announcing five policy directions aimed at rebuilding growth and competitiveness. National Manpower News (Jeon-guk Inlyeok Sinmun) published an article analyzing what these EU policy shifts mean for South Korean industry.

Regulatory Improvements and Administrative Changes

🚫 Immediate Blocking of Illegal Content Distribution

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has significantly accelerated its response to online copyright infringement by implementing a system that allows for the immediate emergency blocking of illegal content sites. The system had an instant effect, as large illegal platforms shut down voluntarily immediately after its launch.

🔥 Stricter Penalties for Accidental Forest Fires

Following the bills passed by the National Assembly, a legal basis has been established to strengthen penalties for individuals who accidentally cause forest fires. This measure aims to bolster prevention and reinforce accountability in response to the increasing frequency of forest fire damage.

🌊 Funding for Marine Debris Cleanup

The recent passage of these livelihood bills has legalized state funding for the costs of collecting marine debris. This is expected to contribute to protecting the marine environment while easing the financial burden on local governments.

Policy Impact and Future Schedule

• The Emergency Blocking System for Illegal Content has already shown immediate results with the voluntary shutdown of major illegal platforms following its official implementation on April 27. It is expected to improve the copyright protection environment and expand the legitimate content market moving forward.

• The Bill to Strengthen Penalties for Accidental Forest Fires will undergo official promulgation and implementation procedures following its passage through the National Assembly, providing a legal foundation for forest fire prevention and clarifying liability.

• The Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Patent Support Policy focuses on turning safety-related innovative ideas from public officials and agency employees into patents, which is expected to help revitalize the technology innovation ecosystem in the public sector.