Hee Hwang of Democratic Party Proposes Three Bills to Promote Opening and Use of Public Resources

Promoting the Opening of Facilities in Administrative, Public Institutions, and Schools
Establishing Grounds for Exempting Accident Liability and Prioritizing Use for People with Disabilities

A legislative bill has been proposed to open up public resources—such as conference and lecture facilities, sports fields, and athletic facilities owned by administrative and public institutions—to encourage greater use by local residents.

Hee Hwang, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced on March 31 that he has sponsored three bills—collectively referred to as the “Three Public Resource Opening Acts”—aimed at enabling citizens to use conference and lecture facilities, sports fields, and athletic facilities owned by administrative and public institutions more conveniently and safely.

Hee Hwang, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea.

The legislation stipulates that conference and lecture facilities, sports fields, and athletic facilities owned by administrative and public institutions should be made accessible to local residents, provided such use does not disrupt official operations. It also includes provisions for the development of an integrated information system and prioritizing use for people with disabilities.

Additionally, in response to the sharp increase in demand for school facilities for sports and cultural activities, and to address the current reluctance to open school facilities due to concerns about liability for accidents, the bill contains an exemption clause regarding accident responsibility.

The “Act on the Opening and Promotion of Use of Public Resources” allows citizens to use facilities owned by administrative and public institutions for non-profit purposes. It mandates the establishment of an integrated information system, provides liability exemptions for accidents and losses, and supports the promotion of use by people with disabilities.

The “Partial Amendment to the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Regulation of National Property” establishes a legal basis for reducing or waiving usage fees for national property when necessary, in order to effectively support the public’s use of open resources.

The “Partial Amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act” includes provisions to promote the opening of school facilities, such as support from the national and local governments, establishment of a school facility information system, liability exemptions for accidents, and rules giving priority to use by people with disabilities.

Assemblyman Hwang emphasized, “Resources owned by the state, local governments, and public institutions belong to all citizens. The Three Public Resource Opening Acts will lower the barriers to public institutions and schools, and serve as a foundation for bringing essential public services closer to people’s daily lives.”

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