Seoul, South Korea – A revised Security Services Act, which came into effect on July 7, will allow security guards in residential complexes and other facilities to perform a wider range of duties.

While the amended law generally prohibits security companies from assigning non-security tasks to their employees, it introduces exceptions for duties that do not hinder the primary goal of security work. These additional duties will be specified in a presidential decree.

Key provisions of the revised act include:

Relaxed penalties for non-compliance: Security companies that have previously assigned non-security tasks to their guards will now face discretionary license revocation, as opposed to the mandatory revocation previously stipulated.
Reduced administrative burden: The requirement for security companies to maintain training facilities has been eliminated, reducing operational costs.
Enhanced regulatory oversight: Security companies seeking to deploy guards to manage crowds or traffic at the sites of collective disputes must obtain prior approval from the local police chief.
The revised act reflects a Constitutional Court ruling (2020헌가19) that deemed the previous, stricter regulations on non-security tasks as an infringement on occupational freedom.

The provisions related to deploying guards to manage crowds and traffic will take effect immediately, while the remaining provisions will come into force one year after the act's promulgation.