Gukga Bohunbu introduces tiered fines for employment-support failures

Gukga Bohunbu said its amended decree introduced a tiered fine system for employment-support providers that fail to obey corrective orders, replacing a flat 3 million won maximum.

Providers face a 2 million won fine for a first failure to comply, rising to 2.5 million won for a second violation and 3 million won for a third or subsequent breach.

The ministry cited improving the appropriateness of fine decisions for failures to follow corrective orders as the reason for the amendment.

The schedule applies if the same violation recurs within two years of an earlier fine. Penalties levied for conduct before the new rules took effect will count toward the repeat-offense tally. The amended presidential decree took effect upon promulgation on Aug. 25.

Fines may be reduced by up to half for minor negligence, error or remedial efforts, but not for violators with unpaid fines. They may be raised by up to half for grave breaches causing significant damage or violations that persist at least six months, subject to the 3 million won ceiling. The decree also permits authorities to weigh a violation's severity, motive and outcome when deciding whether to reduce or increase a fine.