Today (July 30, 2026), the government-wide Penalty Rationalization Promotion Task Force, which will overhaul the massive 11,165 administrative penalty provisions, officially launched, with expectations that excessive regulations burdening citizens and businesses will be significantly improved.

This is a measure following President Lee Jae-myung's repeated mentions of the necessity for penalty rationalization at state affairs meetings and other occasions. The core goal of this project is to enhance fairness and effectiveness by adjusting all administrative penalties, including economic penalties, in accordance with the severity of violations. It reflects the determination to reduce the disadvantages and social costs that citizens and businesses have experienced due to excessive or imbalanced penalties.

The task force is composed of approximately 40 government officials and researchers from relevant agencies including the Ministry of Government Legislation, Ministry of Finance and Economy, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Choi Young-chan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Government Legislation, serves as the task force director. An advisory committee comprised of experts from academia and the legal community will also operate to add professional expertise and objectivity.

[Photo=Yonhapnews]

Over the next two years, the task force will conduct a comprehensive survey of all 11,165 administrative penalty provisions and establish comprehensive standards for penalty rationalization. In particular, by the end of this year, based on preliminary investigations of approximately 1,200 penalty provisions selected in consideration of importance and ripple effects, the task force plans to develop and announce "Comprehensive Standards for Penalty Rationalization" and a "2-Year Roadmap."

Ministry of Government Legislation Minister Cho Won-chul emphasized the direction of this reform, stating, "We will create tangible changes that citizens can actually feel by resolving the imbalance in penalties and reducing social costs resulting from regulation and law enforcement." The promotion direction follows a three-pronged principle: mitigating excessive penalties, strengthening financial accountability for violations, and taking stern measures against crimes that are socially condemned.

The efforts of this government-wide promotion task force are expected to go beyond simply reducing penalty provisions to enhance fairness and effectiveness in law enforcement, allowing citizens to actually experience changes and providing momentum for business activities. The focus will be on what positive ripple effects the massive penalty system reform to be conducted over the next two years will have on society as a whole.