The government's attempt to extend the statutory usage period (age of the vehicle) for rental cars was not approved at the Cabinet meeting. This is the first instance of the government's legislative proposal being halted in the deliberation process since the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration.
According to the government on the 19th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's amendment to the 'Passenger Vehicle Transportation Business Act Enforcement Decree' presented at the Cabinet meeting was ultimately rejected. The amendment included easing the age criteria for passenger cars used in the car rental business and expanding the criteria for alternative registered vehicles.
Earlier, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport presented a plan in March's legislative notice to extend the age of mid-sized passenger cars from 5 years to 7 years, and for large passenger cars from 8 years to 9 years. It also included the introduction of a new age standard of 9 years for environmentally friendly vehicles, such as electric and hydrogen vehicles, which had previously been subject to internal combustion engine standards.
The requirements for alternative vehicle registration were also expected to be eased. Under current law, only vehicles registered within one year of being released can be used as rental cars, but there was a proposal to change this to allow registration within two years.
However, it was reported that during the Cabinet meeting that day, there were calls to reconsider the enforcement decree and to examine whether to include vehicle mileage as a factor. With the first enforcement decree aimed at deregulation being halted, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to review whether to amend and resubmit the proposal.
Also, another agenda item from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the enforcement decree for the '12·29 Passenger Plane Disaster Victim Support Special Law,' was passed at that Cabinet meeting. This enforcement decree is a follow-up measure to the special law that passed the National Assembly in April, which was prepared after collecting opinions from bereaved families and going through the legislative notice process.
This enforcement decree includes specific payment procedures and criteria for various support systems such as living assistance funds, medical support funds, education expenses, and healing leave. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to implement both the enforcement decree and the special law simultaneously starting June 30, following presidential approval, and will swiftly establish a comprehensive support plan through collaboration with related agencies.
Park Jeong-soo, head of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Victim Support Division, said, “We will do our best to ensure that effective policies that support the recovery of victims’ daily lives and their reintegration into society operate on the ground.”