The current Act stipulates that in places of business required to install safety facilities, etc., the place of business of any publicly-used establishment providing lodging services shall be fitted with a basic sprinkler system. The provision is applicable to places of business that has commenced operation; altered its interior structure, interior decorations, or safety facilities, etc.; or changed the business owner after the amendment and enforcement of the same Act in 2009.

This means that most gosiwon are not subject to compulsory installation of basic sprinkler systems. The gosiwon in Jongno, Seoul where a recent fire resulted in almost 20 casualties was also outside the scope of compulsory installation of basic sprinkler systems.

Accordingly, the Amendment increases the scope of places of business subject to compulsory installation of basic sprinkler systems regardless of such factors as the date of business commencement, etc., and prescribes grounds to provide a state subsidy for the cost of installation currently subsidized by some local governments, thereby aiming to increase the rate of safety facility installation.

The Amendment also increases administrative fines for non-compliance with safety management standards from 3 million won to 5 million won, and non-performance penalties imposed for failure to comply with orders for correction or other measures from 10 million won to 20 million won, thereby aiming to reinforce obligations to install safety facilities, etc. (Article 9, paragraph 6 newly inserted; Article 25, paragraph 1; Article 26, paragraph 1).

Increase the scope of applicability of obligations by deleting applicability provisions concerning obligations to install and maintain basic sprinkler facilities, safety facilities, etc.