Ministry of Health and Welfare revises Enforcement Decree of the Public Health Control Act
Starting Nov. 12, online travel platforms and other telecommunications sales intermediaries that list accommodation products without verifying a valid business registration certificate will face a fine of 5 million won ($3,720).
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced Sunday that it will promulgate Tuesday a revised enforcement decree of the Public Health Control Act containing the new requirement.
Until now, telecommunications sales intermediaries that broker online accommodation products had no separate obligation to verify a lodging business registration certificate.
Under the new rules, intermediaries must check a business registration certificate before listing any accommodation product. If verification is not possible, they are prohibited from brokering that product.
Violations will result in a 5 million won fine under the revised decree.
Accommodation products already listed before the decree takes effect must also be reviewed for valid registration certificates if they are to remain on the platform. Products that cannot be verified must be delisted.
The decree applies to online travel agencies (OTAs) that accept direct listings from accommodation operators and process reservations, as well as platforms that source products from other OTAs or suppliers and display them on their own interfaces to facilitate sales.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to prepare operational guidelines before the system takes effect and distribute them to local governments and affected businesses.
Kim Han-suk, director general of the ministry's health policy bureau, said the measure aims to "enhance the reliability of the online accommodation brokerage process so that people can use lodging facilities with confidence."
thlee@heraldcorp.com
