New rules, laws coming into effect in 2019

A Labrador is coaxed into wearing a muzzle. gettyimagesbank

By Lee Suh-yoon

If 2018 was the year of new bills and legislative battles, 2019 is when its results start to surface in real life. The Year of the Golden Pig is ushering in a flurry of new regulations we should all be aware of.

Minimum wage

Undoubtedly the main point of contention between the ruling and opposition parties this year, the country's minimum wage rose 820 won to 8,350 won ($7.50) per hour, about a 10.9 percent increase.

The new minimum wage must be calculated by dividing the weekly pay by the sum of actual working hours and paid legal holiday hours. Thus, a minimum wage employee who works eight hours a day, five days a week, will earn 1.75 million won a month starting on Jan. 1.

National childcare subsidy

Regardless of household income, any child below the age of six will be given a monthly state subsidy of 100,000 won starting this month. In September, the subsidy will also be expanded to children up to seven years old.

The installation of state-run daycare centers is also compulsory at apartment complexes with over 500 households this year.

Keeping dogs tied and muzzled

From March 21, all dogs must be on leashes when taken outside for a walk. Five breeds ― Japanese mastiff, pit bull terrier, Stanford shorthair terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier and Rottweiler ― must also be muzzled at all times.

Dog owners who fail to abide by these laws will be subject to a 3 million won fine. If dogs cause injury to others while not wearing the required leash or muzzle, owners can be subject up to 3 years in jail or 30 million won in fines

Taxes for clergy

Priests and monks, too, must pay income taxes on what they receive from their religious organizations. They have until May 31 to report their income.

No soju before driving

Starting on June 25, drinking even one small glass of soju before driving can get you in trouble. A blood alcohol concentration of 0.03 percent will also count as drunk driving, a stricter standard than the current 0.05 percent. Those who are caught will be subject to harsher punishment of up to five years in jail or up to 20 million won in fines.

Car rationing to combat fine dust

As fine dust becomes a more serious and recurring problem, private vehicles in Seoul will be required to participate in a car rationing scheme on days with high concentrations of fine dust.

Under this fine dust reduction scheme, currently applicable only to public servants, cars can only be driven every other day based on whether the license plate number is even or odd. Public participation will become mandatory starting Feb. 25.

On these emergency dust reduction days, old diesel cars that emit a certain level of fine dust will also be banned in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.

CCTVs in buses

Starting Sept. 9, cameras will be installed in all public and chartered buses. The government said it will limit their use and provision to minimize the invasion of citizens' privacy.