The South Korean Ministry of Environment has announced that the revised bill on ‘Management of Indoor Air of Multipurpose Facilities’ has been passed in the National Assembly. The law was announced on December 15, and will come into effect in December 2016. According to the revised bill, manufacturers and importers of building materials must be evaluated to see if they meet the standards before they are permitted to provide materials to construction companies building subway stations, medical facilities or theatres. Laws have also been strengthened for the management
of radon, which is designated as a first class carcinogen by the WHO and is known to cause lung cancer. In the past, authorities stopped at setting and managing regulations on the quality of air indoors, only advising facilities to meet the criteria. However, in the future, they will strictly investigate and manage radon concentration. Also, a ‘radon map’ will be made.