Gov't to ease additional 167 regulations such as allowing online sales of contact lenses

govt-regulations

Gov't to ease additional 167 regulations such as allowing online sales of contact lenses

By Kim Han-joo

SEOUL, Nov. 22 (Yonhap) -- The government will push forward the easing of an additional 167 kinds of regulations, with a focus on providing more convenience for citizens and more opportunities in economic activities, officials said Wednesday.

The Office for Government Policy Coordination announced the measures after successfully easing 1,600 kinds of regulations in a move that officials said is expected to result in an economic effect worth 101 trillion won (US$ 78 billion).

In one of the new deregulation measures, online sales of contact lenses will be allowed starting from next year. So far, contact lenses have only been allowed for purchase at offline optical shops.

The government will also scrap mandating fishermen to report to police face-to-face before and after going fishing near the de facto inter-Korean maritime border, known as the Northern Limit Line (NLL).

Under the eased regulation, fishing boats with tracking devices will be allowed to report their fishing activities near the NLL through a non-face-to-face method, which will greatly provide convenience for some 1,700 fishing boats.

The regulation was first enforced nearly 50 years ago in an effort to prevent unauthorized defection to North Korea. The marine ministry will revise the bill in the latter half of next year.

Additionally, restrictions on restaurants' hiring of foreigners will be eased to cope with growing labor shortages. So far, foreigners holding non-professional employment visas (E-9) were not permitted for employment at restaurants.

"The government is mobilizing all available capabilities to ease various small but meaningful regulations to ease difficulties related to people's livelihood," Government Policy Coordination Minister Bang Ki-seon said.

The government said it will continue with deregulation efforts and work with various agencies to swiftly revise related bills.

(END)

(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved