Five revised draft laws, which includes the Waste Management Act, the Environmental Management Corporation Act, the Water Supply Act, the Act Relating to Environmental Support and Development, and the Act Relating to Indoor Air Qualities in Multiple Use Facilities, have passed the National Assembly Plenary Session on April 30, 2003.

Some of the key points of the revised Acts consist of the following:

The legal title of the "Act Relating to Air Qualities in Underground Space" has been modified to "Act Relating to Indoor Air Qualities in Multiple Use Facilities". The facilities subject to application, which were only limited to subway stations and underground shopping districts, have been expanded to include various public facilities such as passenger terminals, public libraries and general hospitals. By strengthening the indoor air quality management, the Ministry expects improvements in the quality of living environment for the general public in large multiple-use facilities.

Through the revisions made in the Act Relating to Environmental Support and Development, foreign research institutes can participate in environmental technology development projects, jointly with Korea's research institutes. Also, measures in the Waste Management Act have been strengthened through restricting waste generation at the source by obligating installation of waste reducing facilities in businesses.

Also, the Environmental Management Corporation Act have been revised so that the term of the inspector has changed from 2 years to 3 years in order to promote inspector's stability of position and independent nature of work. Also, through the revisions made in the Water Supply Act, the nationwide general water supply plans will be reassessed every five years to reflect necessary changes.

The five draft laws which passed the National Assembly will be transferred to the Government to be proclaimed by the President. Six months after the Presidential Decree, the revised laws will officially go into effect, beginning from Nov of this year, except for the Act Relating to Indoor Air Qualities in Multiple Use Facilities, which will be effected from May of 2004.