Plenary passes 94 items including the Special Act on Support for Crisis Pregnancies and Protected Childbirth and the Protection of Children*

- Extends support to women facing difficulties with childbirth and childcare for economic and other reasons

- Provides counseling, guidance, and referral services to pregnant women in crisis; and ensures the right-to-know of children

- Promotes and supports quantum science and technology, a future technology sector garnering attention, at the national level

- Expands the types of crimes subject to disclosure of the suspect’s personal details, such as crimes related to insurrection, 

         foreign exchange, organization of crime groups, and narcotics; and establishes grounds for disclosure of mug shots

- Enhances convenience by allowing the electronic submission of claims for payment of health insurance monies for actual losses

* English translation of the original Korean titles is tentative.

The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, under the leadership of Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, passed a total of 94 agenda items, including 88 bills, during the 9th plenary meeting of the 410th regular session on October 6 (Friday).

The Motion for “Confirmation of the Appointment of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (Lee Gyun-ryong)” was rejected, with a total vote count of 295 votes, including 118 in favor, 175 against, and 2 abstentions.

Upon the election of Hong Ihk-pyo, the Chairman of the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee, as the new floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea on September 26, National Assembly member Lee Sang-heon was elected as the new Chairman of the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee.**

** By-election for the Chairman of the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee: 192 votes were cast, with 179 votes in favor.

Major bills tabled for consideration are as follows: 

<1> Special Act on Support for Crisis Pregnancies and Protected Childbirth and the Protection of Children*

The approved Special Act intends to institutionalize protections for crisis pregnancies, particularly for women who are facing difficulties in childbirth or childcare due to economic, psychological, and/or physical reasons. 

“Pregnant women and nursing mothers in crisis” has been defined as pregnant women or nursing women who have given birth within the past six months and are experiencing challenges with childbirth and/or childcare due to economic, psychological, and/or physical reasons. “Protected childbirth” is defined as the act of giving birth by a pregnant woman or a nursing mother after the completion of counseling on childbirth, childcare, and child protection, and the anonymizing of personal information, through an application. 

Provisions are included to furnish broader support to pregnant women and nursing mothers in crisis. The Minister of Health and Welfare may designate central counseling support institutions and local counseling centers to provide counseling, information, and necessary referral services for them and to protect their children. 

Local counseling centers must provide sufficient counseling and guidance on social security benefits and support measures to enable such women in crisis to directly care for their children. The centers are also encouraged to coordinate services such as requests for admission to single-parent family welfare facilities and referrals for postpartum care helpers, to protect the prenatal and postpartum well-being of these women in crisis.

An applicant for protected childbirth can withdraw their application and, starting at the time they receive the child again, they may exercise their parental rights, as prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The Special Act also ensures the right-to-know of children born through a protected childbirth. 

Under the Special Act, individuals born through protected childbirth can request disclosure of their birth certificate from the President of the National Center for the Rights of the Child. The President may disclose the birth certificate, excluding the personal information of the applicant for protected childbirth (mother) and their biological father, even if their consent is not confirmed; provided that if there are special reasons, the birth certificate may be disclosed regardless of the consent of the applicant (mother) or their biological father.

<2> Act on the Promotion of Quantum Science and Technology and Related Industries

The approved Act aims to systematically nurture and support quantum science and technology, as well as the quantum industry, for the development of quantum computers, quantum communication, quantum simulators, and related products and services at the national level. Recognized as a breakthrough in existing advanced technologies, quantum science and technology is gaining increasing attention as a key to future defense and advanced industries.

Specifically, the Act includes provisions for: ▲ the government to establish and implement a comprehensive plan for the promotion of quantum science and technology and the quantum industry every five years, alongside annual execution plans; ▲ establishment of a Quantum Strategy Committee under the Prime Minister to deliberate and decide on policies relating to quantum science and technology and the quantum industry; ▲ the construction and operation of a quantum science and technology information system to manage information about quantum science and technology R&D as well as the status of related enterprises; ▲ the creation of special criteria for government funding and differential cash burden ratios for institutions participating in quantum science and technology and quantum industry R&D projects; ▲ performance evaluation and differentiated financial support based on the personnel and facility standards of quantum fabs*.

*** Quantum fabs refers to the personnel and facilities that support the equipment and procedures used in the promotion of quantum science and technology as well as the quantum industry

To prepare for the improvements to information processing capabilities that follow technological advancement, the government shall be required to analyze the effects of quantum science and technology on relevant affairs and assess whether there are security threats to the public and private sectors resulting from the development of quantum science and technology.

<3> Act on the Disclosure of Personal Information of Suspects in Specific Serious Crimes

The approved Act intends to expand the types of crimes subject to disclosure of personal information of suspects involved in serious crimes and establish grounds for the disclosure of mug shots (current facial photograph). It consolidates regulations concerning the disclosure of personal information currently dispersed among individual laws into a general law on personal information disclosure.

In view of the increasing public anxiety caused by a series of heinous crimes, the new Act aims to address concerns about the inadequate protection of citizens' right-to-know about violent criminals. Its purpose is to enhance the effectiveness of the personal information disclosure system while ensuring citizens' right-to-know and reinforcing crime prevention for the realization of a safer society.

The scope of crimes subject to personal information disclosure is expanded to include crimes relating to insurrection, foreign exchange, organization of crime groups, and narcotics. In specific cases, such as when the prosecutor intends to make changes in an indictment against a defendant of a serious criminal charge during trial, the defendant’s personal information may be disclosed.

Within 30 days of the date of the decision to disclose personal information, photos (mug shots) taken by investigative agencies shall be made public. In cases where a non-indictment decision or acquittal ruling is finalized following the disclosure, separate criminal compensation for personal information disclosure can be made based on established provisions.

<4> Amendment to the Youth Welfare Support Act

The amendment intends to support the independence of youth outside the home of their parent/guardian and set in place safety measure requirements for workers at youth welfare facilities.

The Minister of Gender Equality and Family or the head of a local government shall be required to formulate and implement education and promotion policies aimed at the prevention of the occurrence of out-of-home youth and supports for them.

The amendment provides grounds for supporting the independence of out-of-home youth after they leave youth welfare facilities. Central and local governments may provide support for housing/living/education/employment/settlement funds, independence allowances, and asset build-up and management support for out-of-home youth. The specific scope of out-of-home youth requiring independent support shall be delegated to presidential decree.

To ensure the personal safety of workers at youth welfare facilities, central and local governments shall be obligated to establish safety measures similar to current provisions in the Child Welfare Act and the Act on the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Protection of Victims.

<5> Amendment to the Insurance Business Act

The amendment simplifies the procedure for claiming reimbursement via the electronic submission of medical expenses under ‘actual medical cost insurance.’ Actual medical cost insurance is a private insurance product designed to supplement medical expenses not covered by the National Health Insurance Corp.

Previously, policyholders or insured individuals needed to obtain documents from medical institutions (as defined in Article 42 of the National Health Insurance Act) and submit them directly to the insurance company to receive benefits from ‘actual medical cost insurance,’ contributing to inconvenience in the claims process.

The bill mandates that insurance companies establish and operate a computer system for claiming ‘actual medical cost insurance’ benefits. Medical institutions shall be required to electronically transmit insurance-claim documents to insurance companies at the request of policyholders or insured individuals.

<6> Regulations on the Establishment and Operation of the Sejong National Assembly Hall

The newly enacted Regulations stipulate the location and siting of the Sejong National Assembly Hall, principles of establishment and operation of the Sejong National Assembly Hall, committees and organizations to be relocated there, and the management system for its establishment. 

In accordance with the National Assembly Act, amended in September 2021, matters necessary for the establishment, operation, etc., of the Sejong National Assembly Hall shall be prescribed by National Assembly Regulations.

The National Assembly Budget Office, National Assembly Research Service and 12 committees shall be relocated there, and a branch of the National Assembly Library will be established and located there. 

* English translation of the original Korean titles is tentative.