Moonsoo Kim Vows to Eradicate Illegal Business Operations with Platforms and Tents in Valleys

Representative Proposal of the Amendment to the "Special Act on Development-Restricted Areas"
"Stronger Penalties for Violations... Must Return the Valleys to the Public"

Moonsoo Kim, member of the Democratic Party of Korea.

Moonsoo Kim, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea representing Suncheon, Gwangyang, Gokseong, and Gurye-gap in South Jeolla Province, announced on September 11 that he has sponsored an amendment to the "Special Act on the Designation and Management of Development-Restricted Areas." The amendment aims to eradicate illegal business activities, such as installing platforms or tents in valleys designated as development-restricted areas.

The amendment strengthens the penalty provisions for unlicensed activities and failure to comply with corrective orders within development-restricted areas, raising the maximum penalty from up to one year of imprisonment or a fine of up to 10 million won to up to three years of imprisonment or a fine of up to 30 million won.

Additionally, for profit-driven or habitual violations, the amendment increases the penalty from up to three years of imprisonment or a fine of up to 30 million won to up to five years of imprisonment or a fine of up to 50 million won.

Illegal activities such as installing unauthorized facilities like tents or platforms around valleys in development-restricted areas to charge seat fees, or changing the use of facilities within greenbelt zones without permission, continue to occur. However, there have been ongoing concerns that the profits from these illegal activities often exceed the fines imposed, undermining the effectiveness of the law and its crime prevention impact.

Kim stated, "If the profits from illegal business activities outweigh the penalties, it becomes difficult to eradicate such violations. Through this amendment, we must prevent illegal business operations in valleys and return these areas to the public."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.