A decree to extend for two months the cut in the flexible rate of the special consumption tax on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) butane passed the Cabinet meeting on the 28th. President Lee Jae-myung presided over the Cabinet meeting at the Blue House that day and reviewed and approved a draft amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Individual Consumption Tax Act containing these details. The measure will be in effect until June 30.
LPG butane is a fuel mainly used by working-class people, including small trucks. As fuel prices have surged, increasing the burden on the working class and vulnerable groups, the government expanded the cut in the fuel tax on LPG butane from the existing 10% to 25%, lowering it from 247.5 won per kilogram (kg) to 206 won.
A partial amendment to the Regulations on Public Holidays of Government Offices to include Labor Day (May 1) and Constitution Day (July 17) as public holidays also cleared the Cabinet meeting. Accordingly, Labor Day and Constitution Day will be applied as public holidays for government offices. Labor Day has been a statutory commemorative day, but public servants and others did not take the day off. Constitution Day had also been excluded from public holidays, but going forward both will be days off as public holidays.
The government also approved a partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Commercial Building Lease Protection Act that establishes a new right for tenants to request the provision of management fee details for commercial buildings. In addition, the Cabinet passed a partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Copyright Act that sets procedures for establishing a comprehensive plan for copyright protection and includes measures to block access to illegal sites, and a partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Child Welfare Act that allows foster caregivers to temporarily act as guardians for children under protection.