The first full meeting of the "Regulatory Rationalization Committee," chaired by President Lee Jae-myung, was held on the 15th. At the meeting, the government reported it would ease regulations to allow mayors and provincial governors of local governments designated as "mega special zones" to grant temporary operation permits for autonomous vehicles. Currently, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport holds the permitting authority.
A mega special zone is a framework that groups multiple cities and provinces into one and applies the same regulatory exemptions. Going beyond the government's previous practice of designating special zones by local government, it would bundle multiple living zones into one to ease regulations on advanced industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors and bio.
On the agenda for the first meeting was a plan to promote mega special zones to support the "5 poles and 5 specials." The 5 poles and 3 specials is the Lee Jae-myung administration's national balanced development strategy to reorganize the country into five mega-regions—capital area, southeast, Daegyeong, central and Honam—and three special self-governing provinces—Gangwon, North Jeolla and Jeju. President Lee believes the introduction of mega special zones is necessary to realize the 5 poles and 3 specials.
The government reported plans to promote mega special zones for robots, renewable energy, bio and artificial intelligence (AI) autonomous vehicles. Regarding AI autonomous vehicles, mayors and provincial governors in mega special zones will be given the authority to grant temporary operation permits for autonomous vehicles. The government also said it would provide corporations in mega special zones with vehicle maintenance and charging spaces and depots, and support settlement with job-linked dwellings. It will also provide large-scale driving data and advanced graphics processing units (GPUs) needed for autonomous driving AI training.
Local governments designated as robot mega special zones will be allowed to let unmanned firefighting robots travel on roads. Outdoor advertising and business activities in parks will also be permitted for outdoor mobile robots. The government will also support policy funds such as the Public Growth Fund and expand public procurement to foster local startups.
For renewable energy mega special zones, the government is reviewing a plan to fully allow direct renewable energy transactions. For local governments that become bio mega special zones, it will ease deliberation procedures for advanced regenerative medicine and allow special provisions for decentralized clinical trials. It will also review a plan to allow beauty medical devices to be used before approval.
The government plans to enact the Mega Special Zone Act this year and then designate mega special zones. Local governments wishing to be designated as mega special zones must draw up plans with corporations and apply to the government. After that, the Presidential Committee for Decentralization and Balanced Development will deliberate and resolve the plans, and the Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources will designate the mega special zones.