Korea to scrap ‘absurd regulations’

(Yonhap)

South Korea will simplify service procedures across various sectors from telecommunications to transportation, aiming to reduce the inconvenience caused by what it calls unreasonable regulation , the government said on Wednesday.

The Office for Government Policy Coordination said it selected 10 items for reform under its annual “Absurd Regulation Contest,” which invites citizens to propose rules that complicate daily life.

Among the changes, mobile phone contracts will be cancellable with a few clicks instead of requiring iinconveniences including phone calls, branch visits, or mandatory consultations. The Korea Communications Commission will apply a quick cancellation policy with outstanding payments to be settled after termination.

Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL), the publicly-run railway operator in Seoul, will allow passengers to change seats and stations via mobile apps after boarding.

Student loan applications will be expanded to weekends and holidays. Drivers will also be able to pay highway tolls at convenience stores.

The Personal Information Protection Commission, the country’s national data protection authority, said it will provide legal grounds by 2026 to permit the use of CCTV footage for crime reporting, resolving longstanding privacy concerns.

Separately, at a joint meeting of economic and industrial ministers, the government approved 33 tasks aimed at improving public services including greater digitization and reduced wait times. Pilot schemes will also be introduced at 100 highway gas stations to display next–day fuel prices, reflecting fluctuations in international oil prices.

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said the reforms aim to “enhance public satisfaction by cutting unreasonable regulations and accelerating innovation in public services.”