The Cabinet has approved the text of several draft amendments designed to improve disaster prevention laws.
The draft amendments aim to tighten requirements for earthquake resistance in buildings and enhance laws on urban renewal and disaster relief. The drafts, finalized Thursday, include text requiring that building projects above a certain size get a series of third party approvals before they can go ahead. If the draft amendments pass, architects, professional technicians, and government agencies will all need to sign off on the construction of large buildings.
Cabinet spokesperson Sun Lih-chyun said that these requirements are the most important part of these draft amendments. He said the amendments will help ensure the quality of construction. The Cabinet will be in contact with the legislature to speed up the amendment process, Sun said.
The draft also simplifies the procedure for making urban renewal applications. Amendments to the disaster relief law include provisions on government compensation for buildings damaged by natural disasters.