(1) Reasons for Proposal

As the Act on the Promotion and Support for the Commercialization of Autonomous Vehicles was enacted (Act No. 16641; promulgated on April 30, 2019; to be enforced on May 1, 2020) with detailed contents for granting special cases to exclude the application of relevant regulations to facilitate research and pilot operation for commercialization of autonomous vehicles, this Enforcement Decree aims to prescribe matters delegated by the Act and matters necessary for the enforcement thereof.

(2) Major Provisions

A. Change and establishment of a self-driving transport logistics master plan (Articles 2 and 3) 

This Enforcement Degree aims to include, in the self-driving transport logistics master plan, phased action plans for the supporting policy of self-driving transport logistics system, the status and goal of technology development in the autonomous vehicle sector, and public-private cooperation measures to promote the commercialization of autonomous vehicles.

B. Status survey on autonomous vehicles (Article 4) 

The Enforcement Decree requires the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to establish a research plan in advance, which includes criteria for selecting the objects to be surveyed and the date and time of survey, and including technology development, industry and infrastructure status related to autonomous vehicles when he/she conducts the status survey in accordance with Article 5 (1) of the Act.

C. Designation of pilot operation districts (Article 5) 

The Enforcement Decree stipulates that Mayor/Do Governor intending to be designated a pilot operation district shall submit an operation plan, including detailed contents of regulatory exemptions, measures to secure safety, and conflict resolution process among stakeholders, to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and that the designated period of the pilot operation district shall be determined within the range of five years.

D. Regulatory exemptions in pilot operation districts (Articles 8 through 11) 

1) A person who intends to be qualified for special cases concerning passenger transport with compensation or special cases concerning freight trucking business shall submit a plan and certificate of insurance (if he/she has difficulty getting insurance, documents that can prove the fact that compensation measures for human and material damages such as debt guarantee and lodgment with financial institutions is prepared) to compensate for personal and material damages.

2) The limited transport license to operate routes using autonomous vehicles in the pilot operation district shall include the city bus transport business, farming and fishing village bus transport business, intercity bus transport business, on-demand passenger transport business, and Maeul bus transport business.

E. Evaluation of the operation of pilot operation districts (Article 14) 

The relevant Mayor/Do Governor in charge of the pilot operation district shall submit a performance report on the operation of the pilot operation district annually to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport shall evaluate the performance of the pilot operation district annually after deliberation of and resolution by the committee, considering the report.

F. Compulsory insurance subscription (Article 15) 

The insurance coverage amount shall be 150 million won for death or residual harm, 30 million won in case of injury, and 1 billion won per accident in case of loss or damage of property. The Enforcement of Decree allows the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to support a portion of the insurance premium.