In February, 2026, the South Korean government published a proposed amendment to the Regulations on the Preparation of Chemical Accident Prevention and Control Plans (National Institute of Chemical Safety Notice No. 2026-07). The proposal aims to align the regulations with recent updates to the Chemicals Control Act, while improving the system by clarifying its scope and easing compliance burdens for businesses.
Overview of the Chemical Accident Prevention and Control Plan System
Under Article 23 of the Chemicals Control Act, companies planning to install and operate facilities that handle hazardous chemicals must prepare and submit a Chemical Accident Prevention and Control Plan in advance. The plan is intended to assess the potential impact of chemical accidents on nearby communities and the environment, while outlining measures to minimize harm.
The plan includes key safety management elements such as:
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Hazard information for handled chemicals
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Accident impact analysis
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Process risk assessments
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Emergency response systems
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Resident evacuation plans
For major hazardous chemical facilities, plans must be updated every five years. Submitted plans are subject to government review, on-site inspections, and requests for corrections or additional information. Businesses are also responsible for ongoing implementation, which may be verified through periodic inspections.
Key Proposed Revisions
1. Clearer Scope of Application and Updated Definitions
The amendment updates terminology and scope in line with revised definitions under the Chemicals Control Act.
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Further classification of hazardous chemicals: The former category of “toxic chemicals” would now be divided into substances acutely hazardous to human health, chronically hazardous to human health, environmentally hazardous substances, and accident preparedness substances.
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Introduction of Maximum Holding Quantity: A new term referring to the maximum aggregate amount of each regulated substance that may be temporarily stored at a site. This quantity would determine the required level of plan preparation.
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Revised site classification: Class 1 and Class 2 business sites would now be categorized based on whether their Maximum Holding Quantity exceeds specified upper or lower thresholds, replacing the previous handling quantity criteria.
2. Reorganized Plan Preparation and Expanded Exemptions
The proposal also introduces a more systematic preparation method and broader exemptions.
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Preparation level determination: Maximum Holding Quantity would be calculated at the site level, with facilities classified into Group 1 or Group 2 under Appendix Table 1. Group 2 sites may be exempt from certain reporting items.
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Additional exempt facilities: Newly exempted facilities include those handling solid-state lead with no dispersion risk, as well as naturally occurring substances that have not been altered or extracted.
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Updated forms: Submission forms would be revised to reflect new terminology and requirements.
3. Reduced Overlap with Other Regulations
To lessen duplicate compliance burdens, the amendment allows businesses to use documents already prepared under other laws, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Act. For instance, the Process Safety Report (PSM) managed by the Ministry of Employment and Labor may be accepted in place of a separate Chemical Accident Prevention and Control Plan.
