There will be a variety of changes affecting the lives of ordinary citizens this year. They are related to many areas, including welfare, employment, transportation, telecommunications and the minimum wage, and are being adopted for the sake of public interest and safety.

Starting in 2014, there will now be available a single smart card that can be used on all public transport across the country. Smoking will be banned in taxis at all times and airbags will become mandatory. Also, a new address system based on road names and building numbers will take full effect.

The minimum wage will increase from KRW 4,860 per hour to KRW 5,120 per hour, while mobile phone membership fees will be halved. Additional security features will be installed in smartphones in a bid to prevent theft and the illegal use of personal information. Users of LTE smartphones will be able to choose to either increase their monthly allotment of data or add call minutes to their plan.

In airplanes, the use of portable electronic devices will be allowed during takeoffs and landings. Finally, watching TV will be banned while driving a car.

For more information, visit the homepages of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance (www.mosf.og.kr) or other relevant ministries.

Employment and welfare

- Wage protection: If companies reduce the wage of employees over the age of 50 and, in return, increase the retirement age to 56 or older, the government will pay up to KRW 6 million a year to make up for the reduced amount of salary. The government will offer up to KRW 1 billion for facility investments to companies that introduce job-sharing schemes by cutting working hours, in addition to the existing financial assistance for labor expenses.

- Minimum wage increase: The minimum wage will rise 7.2 percent to KRW 5,120 per hour and will apply to temporary, hourly and daily laborers.

- Creative Economy Town gets new offices: The new online community Creative Economy Town (www.creativekorea.or.kr) gives entrepreneurs a venue where they can propose their new ideas or technologies and receive feedback on how to commercialize them. Starting in 2014, this government service will now have its own offices. The online community will open its offices in the Gwanghwamun area in central Seoul, providing the same start-up advice on a person-to-person basis.

Transportation and addresses

- A single card for all public transport: A new transportation system will be established allowing citizens to pay for any type of public transport with a single smart card. This will work for buses, subways and train tickets, as well as at toll booths. The new prepaid smart cards will be available by the end of January.

- Road name address takes effect: The new “Road Name Address” system based on road names and building numbers has taken full effect, replacing the old system that consisted of land-oriented lot numbers. When people move and file their change of address or submit documents at public offices, they must use the new road name address system. For more information, call 1588-0061 or visit www.juso.go.kr.


- No smoking in taxis: Beginning February 2, there will be no smoking in all taxis. Also, starting February 7, all taxis must have airbags.

- No watching TV while driving: Beginning on February 14, drivers will be subject to a reprimand if they are caught watching TV while driving.

- Electronic devices allowed during takeoff & landing: Passengers will be allowed to use their portable electronic devices inside of airplanes during takeoffs or landings. However, they will not yet be able to make calls or send text messages during takeoffs or landings, but will be able to use other functions on their phones.



Telecommunication and lifestyle

- Smartphone antitheft system: By the end of June, all Korean manufacturers will need to install a so-called “kill switch” in their new smartphones. The antitheft technology will be able to remotely lock a smartphone or delete all personal information. Users will also be able to prevent the initialization of a stolen or lost smartphone or the use of stored data in their phones.

- Membership to be halved: one-time mobile telecommunication membership fees will be halved. This reduction comes after a 40 percent cut in 2013.


- Digital TVs for low-income households: The government will provide financial assistance to help low-income households purchase digital TVs. For more information, visit www.digitaltv.or.kr.

- Pet registration becomes mandatory: From now on, all pets must be registered. Up until now, this rule has only been applied to cities and counties with 100,000 or more residents. Starting in the new year, it will apply to the whole country.

By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
jun2@korea.kr