Korea aligns aviation safety oversight with ICAO standards in decree revision

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) has issued a legislative notice announcing a partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Aviation Safety Act, published in the Official Gazette (관보) No. 21323 (separate volume 1) dated 16 September 2026 under MOLIT Public Notice No. 2026-1200. The notice, signed by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, was issued under Article 41 of the Administrative Procedures Act to gather public opinion before the decree takes effect.

The revision is designed to secure consistency between Korea’s domestic aviation safety oversight system and international standards ahead of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety assessment. It follows the amendment of the Aviation Safety Act (Act No. 21636), promulgated on 12 May 2026 and scheduled to take effect on 13 November 2026, which explicitly assigns the government’s oversight functions over air carriers, maintenance organizations and training institutions.

Integrated career management and safety systems

The decree establishes the framework for an integrated career management system for the renewal of aviation personnel licenses, defining the system’s operation and the information it manages (new Article 8-2). It also sets the operating scale thresholds for the aviation safety management system applicable to professional training institutions, aircraft operators and holders of maintenance organization certification (new Article 8-4).

Risk-based oversight and delegated authority

The amendment introduces a risk-based safety oversight system, entrusting its construction and operation to the Aviation Safety Technology Institute (new Article 20-4). It also delegates authority to regional aviation offices for dangerous goods transport permits and maintenance organization certification renewal (Article 26(1)), and entrusts license renewal, integrated career management system operation and air traffic aptitude testing to the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (Article 26(6)).

• Delegation of authority to collect aviation information and aeronautical chart production data (new Article 20-2 and Article 26(2)).
• Criteria exempting administrative dispositions for mandatory-report aviation safety incidents caused by emergency measures for accident prevention or force majeure (new Article 8-5).
• Revised fine (과징금) and penalty (과태료) criteria for violations related to type certification, production certification, training institutions, air traffic service certification, air carriers and maintenance organizations (Annexes 1 to 5).

Public comment period

Interested organizations, groups and individuals may submit opinions by 26 October 2026 through the National Participation Legislation Center (opinion.lawmaking.go.kr) or by sending a written opinion to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Submissions should state whether they support or oppose the notice (with reasons if opposed), along with the submitter’s name, address and telephone number.

The revision carries broad implications for airlines, maintenance firms and aviation training institutions, which will face new safety management obligations, a unified career record system and adjusted administrative fine schedules. By aligning domestic rules with ICAO standards, the measure is intended to strengthen Korea’s aviation safety oversight credibility in the international arena.

Source: Official Gazette (관보), No. 21323 (separate volume 1), 16 September 2026, Section I (official reference: MOLIT Public Notice No. 2026-1200).