● Updated law: Motor Vehicle Management Act
What it does: Allows government to manage and track EV batteries to bolster safety
Took effect: Feb. 17
Starting Feb. 17, automakers are required to obtain government certification of the safety of batteries used in their electric vehicles.
In addition, automakers must assign an identification number to each individual EV battery. The system will allow the government and automakers to manage and track each battery from production to disposal. The system is designed to strengthen the safety management of EVs and ensure consumers' right to know.
EV batteries, even after being certified by the government, must undergo additional safety inspections every three years.
When automakers register an electric vehicle for the first time, the battery identification number must be specified in the register. If there are two or more batteries, the identification number of each battery must be stated. If the battery installed in an EV is replaced, then the changes must be registered as well.
The amendment comes amid safety concerns prompted by a series of EV fires in South Korea last year. On Aug. 1, a fire that broke out in a parked Mercedes-Benz EV damaged nearly 1,000 vehicles inside an apartment complex in Incheon, 27 kilometers west of Seoul. The fire resulted in some 3.8 billion won ($2.57 million) in damages.
It was soon followed by a fire that began in a parked EV in Geumsan, 166 km south of Seoul.
Preventing fire hazards in schools
● Updated law: Act on the Safety and Maintenance of Educational Facilities
What it does: Requires new school facilities constructed from Feb. 7 to install firefighting systems
Took effect: Feb. 7
Starting Feb. 7, educational facilities ranging from kindergartens to universities that are being built or are planned for construction are required to install firefighting systems such as sprinklers. This includes facilities that are being renovated or relocated.
These safety systems are to be installed in accordance with the government’s seismic-resistant design standards so they can operate normally in case of an earthquake.
The latest amendment expands the scope of facilities subject to the mandatory installation of fire safety devices.
-- In collaboration with the Ministry of Government Legislation, The Korea Herald publishes a monthly article on laws that have recently been updated in South Korea. The ministry’s Easy Law service (https://www.easylaw.go.kr/CSM/Main.laf) provides accessible summaries of Korean laws grouped by category in English and 11 other languages: Arabic, Bengali, Cambodian, Simplified Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Mongolian, Nepali, Thai, Uzbek and Vietnamese -- Ed.
mkjung@heraldcorp.com
