The government plans to exclude charging facilities for delivery robots in multi-unit housing from floor area ratio calculations and establish operational standards for robots at construction sites and parking lots. It aims to simplify the approval process for unmanned autonomous vehicles and significantly reduce administrative paperwork for startups to promote the commercialization of new industries.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, discussions on establishing a foundation for the commercialization of mobile robots, rationalizing autonomous vehicle regulations, and redesigning administrative paperwork for startups took place during the second plenary meeting of the Regulatory Rationalization Committee, chaired by President Lee Jae-myung at the Blue House on October 23.
Exemption of Robot Charging Facilities from Housing Regulations and Establishment of Operational Standards
The government has decided to create regulatory exceptions for the use of mobile robots in residential and industrial spaces, including multi-unit housing, construction sites, and parking lots.
Initially, it will promote a plan to exclude the area of facilities for waiting, charging, and maintaining delivery robots and other service robots from the floor area ratio calculations in multi-unit housing. It will also establish a legal framework for communication between robots and building systems.
At construction sites, operational standards will be established to allow the use of robots for assistance and site inspections. In parking lots and logistics facilities, operational standards for robots will be developed to facilitate automated parking and logistics transfer, thereby reducing business uncertainties.
At airports and railway facilities, specific safety verification and separate approval requirements will be applied to inspection robots. Additionally, a 'mobility pedestrian map' will be created to ensure that robots can safely navigate crosswalks, obstacles, and building entrances, utilizing a public-private joint platform.
The government is also working to establish a legal basis to support the commercialization of mobile robots. It is pushing for the enactment of a special law aimed at promoting the safe use and commercialization of mobile robots, which is currently pending in the National Assembly.
Initially, it will promote a plan to exclude the area of facilities for waiting, charging, and maintaining delivery robots and other service robots from the floor area ratio calculations in multi-unit housing. It will also establish a legal framework for communication between robots and building systems.
At construction sites, operational standards will be established to allow the use of robots for assistance and site inspections. In parking lots and logistics facilities, operational standards for robots will be developed to facilitate automated parking and logistics transfer, thereby reducing business uncertainties.
At airports and railway facilities, specific safety verification and separate approval requirements will be applied to inspection robots. Additionally, a 'mobility pedestrian map' will be created to ensure that robots can safely navigate crosswalks, obstacles, and building entrances, utilizing a public-private joint platform.
The government is also working to establish a legal basis to support the commercialization of mobile robots. It is pushing for the enactment of a special law aimed at promoting the safe use and commercialization of mobile robots, which is currently pending in the National Assembly.
Streamlining of Autonomous Vehicle Approval Process and Reduction of Startup Documentation
In the autonomous driving sector, regulatory easing is being pursued to reduce the burden on companies. The government plans to convert some exceptions related to driver obligations for unmanned autonomous vehicles into a permanent system and amend relevant laws to allow autonomous vehicles without a driver's seat to operate outside designated testing areas for exceptional cases such as moving to a garage or charging. This aims to shorten administrative procedures by more than three months.
A fast-track system will be introduced for temporary operating permits for autonomous vehicles. Companies meeting certain criteria will receive priority approval for verified autonomous vehicles, simplifying procedures for real-world verification. The government plans to reduce the approval period by more than one month, aiming to deploy over 3,000 autonomous vehicles in expanded test cities starting in 2027.
The system for the commercialization of unmanned autonomous vehicles will also be refined. International safety standards for autonomous driving will be adopted domestically, and a performance certification system applicable to business-to-business transactions will be implemented starting at the end of this year. The government will institutionalize autonomous driving service providers responsible for remote monitoring and accident response, and guidelines will be established to differentiate civil liability between manufacturers and autonomous driving companies in the event of accidents.
The scope of original driving data for training autonomous driving artificial intelligence (AI) will also be expanded. At the same time, security measures will be strengthened for data stored domestically and for overseas transfers.
Administrative burdens on startups will be reduced as well. The government plans to cut the number of required documents for 43 services in emerging industries such as startup support, drones, logistics, and mobility from 331 to 175. The total volume of submitted documents will be reduced from 2,426 to 1,426 pages, achieving a reduction rate of approximately 53%.
For instance, the six documents previously required for smart logistics center certification will be consolidated into one self-assessment report, and the submission of insurance certificates will be waived for drone business registrations.
The government expects that this reduction in paperwork will save companies a total of 36,512 hours of administrative work annually, resulting in an estimated labor cost savings of about 550 million won. Related guidelines and manuals are planned to be revised by the end of the year.
A fast-track system will be introduced for temporary operating permits for autonomous vehicles. Companies meeting certain criteria will receive priority approval for verified autonomous vehicles, simplifying procedures for real-world verification. The government plans to reduce the approval period by more than one month, aiming to deploy over 3,000 autonomous vehicles in expanded test cities starting in 2027.
The system for the commercialization of unmanned autonomous vehicles will also be refined. International safety standards for autonomous driving will be adopted domestically, and a performance certification system applicable to business-to-business transactions will be implemented starting at the end of this year. The government will institutionalize autonomous driving service providers responsible for remote monitoring and accident response, and guidelines will be established to differentiate civil liability between manufacturers and autonomous driving companies in the event of accidents.
The scope of original driving data for training autonomous driving artificial intelligence (AI) will also be expanded. At the same time, security measures will be strengthened for data stored domestically and for overseas transfers.
Administrative burdens on startups will be reduced as well. The government plans to cut the number of required documents for 43 services in emerging industries such as startup support, drones, logistics, and mobility from 331 to 175. The total volume of submitted documents will be reduced from 2,426 to 1,426 pages, achieving a reduction rate of approximately 53%.
For instance, the six documents previously required for smart logistics center certification will be consolidated into one self-assessment report, and the submission of insurance certificates will be waived for drone business registrations.
The government expects that this reduction in paperwork will save companies a total of 36,512 hours of administrative work annually, resulting in an estimated labor cost savings of about 550 million won. Related guidelines and manuals are planned to be revised by the end of the year.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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