Article 1(Purpose) #
The purpose of this Act is to prevent danger or injury from oil pipelines and to secure public safety by prescribing matters for the safety management of oil pipelines.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 28, 2008]
Article 2(Definitions) #
The terms used in this Act are defined as follows: <Amended on Jun. 15, 2021>
1. The term "petroleum" means petroleum as defined in subparagraph 1 of Article 2 of the Petroleum and Alternative Fuel Business Act excluding natural gas (including liquefied natural gas) and petroleum gas (excluding liquefied petroleum);
2. The term "oil pipelines" means pipelines and structures to transport petroleum, excluding facilities prescribed by Presidential Decree;
3. The term "pipeline installer" means persons installing and operating oil pipelines after obtaining authorization for construction plans pursuant to Article 3;
4. The term "pipeline manager" means persons operating oil pipelines after being entrusted with the management thereof by pipeline installers;
5. The term "precise safety diagnosis" means that an institution specialized in the safety management of oil pipelines uses equipment and technology to identify potential hazards and causes thereof in order to prevent oil pipeline accidents.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 28, 2008]
Article 3(Authorization for construction plans) #
(1) Those who intend to commence construction works prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources which involve the installation of oil pipelines shall obtain authorization from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources for such construction plans; provided, where they have performed minor construction works, post-disaster restoration work, or other urgent construction works, which are prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, they shall report such works to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Oct. 1, 2025>
(2) When the construction plans under the main clause of paragraph (1) comply with the technical standards prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (hereafter referred to as "technical standards"), the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources shall authorize such construction plans. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Oct. 1, 2025>
(3) When pipeline installers intend to modify construction plans authorized pursuant to the main clause of paragraph (1), they shall obtain authorization from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources; provided, where they intend to modify minor matters prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, they shall report such matters to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Oct. 1, 2025>
(4) Paragraph (2) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the authorization for modification under the main clause of paragraph (3).
[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 28, 2008]
Article 4(Legal fiction of permission) #
(1) When the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources authorizes construction plans or the modification thereof under the main clause of paragraph (1) or (3) of Article 3, permission, etc. for matters, which have been consulted, with the heads of related administrative agencies pursuant to paragraph (2), regarding permission, authorization, license, or designation (hereafter referred to as "permission, etc.") as follows, shall be deemed to have been obtained: <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008; Jun. 9, 2009; Apr. 15, 2010; May 31, 2010; Mar. 23, 2013; Jan. 14, 2014; Jan. 29, 2020; Dec. 27, 2022; Oct. 1, 2025>
1. Permission to occupy and use roads under Article 61(1) of the Road Act;
2. Permission to divert farmland under Article 34(1) of the Farmland Act;
3. A building permit to build private roads under Article 4 of the Private Road Act;
4. Permission to perform acts in the park areas under Article 23(1) of the Natural Parks Act;
5. Occupancy or use permit of pubic waters under Article 8 of the Public Waters Management and Reclamation Act and a reclamation license of public waters under Article 28(1) of the same Act;
6. Deleted; <Apr. 15, 2010>
7. Permission to occupy and use urban parks and permission to engage in activities in the urban natural parks district under Article 24(1) and the proviso of Article 27(1) of the Act on Urban Parks and Green Areas;
8. Permission to occupy and use utility tunnels under Article 44(4) of the National Land Planning and Utilization Act and permission to use them, permission for development activities under Article 56(1) of the same Act, permission for activities within the urbanization-coordination zones under Article 81(2) of the same Act, designation of implementers under Article 86(5) of the same Act, and authorization for implementation plans under Article 88(2) of the same Act;
9. Permission to engage in activities within the grassland under Article 21-2 of the Grassland Act;
10. Permission to occupy and use public sewerage under Article 24 of the Sewerage Act;
11. Permission for and reporting on conversion of and mountainous districts and under Articles 14 and 15 of the Mountainous Districts Management Act, permission for or reporting on the temporary use of mountainous districts under Article 15-2 of the same Act, permission for and reporting on felling standing trees, etc. under Article 36(1) and (5) of the Creation and Management of Forest Resources Act, and permission for and reporting on activities in the forest conservation zones (excluding forest genetic resources protection zones) under Article 9(1) and (2) 1 and 2 of the Forest Protection Act;
Article 5(Completion inspections) #
(1) When pipeline installers complete the construction of relevant oil pipelines, they shall undergo a completion inspection conducted by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Oct. 1, 2025>
(2) The standards for completion inspections referred to in paragraph (1) shall be as follows:
1. Whether the relevant construction complies with the construction plans authorized under the main clause of Article 3(1) (including authorized modification of construction plans where the authorization for modification under the main clause of Article 3(3) has been obtained);
2. Whether construction has been completed in accordance with the technical standards.
(3) When part of the oil pipelines has been completed in accordance with authorized construction plans, pipeline installers may use them after having them undergo an inspection conducted by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Oct. 1, 2025>
(4) Paragraph (2) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the standards for inspections under paragraph (3).
(5) No pipeline installer shall use any oil pipeline unless it has received a passing completion inspection under paragraph (1) or use inspection under paragraph (3).
[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 28, 2008]
Article 6(Safety management regulations) #
(1) In order to ensure the safety of oil pipelines, pipeline installers or pipeline managers (hereinafter referred to as "pipeline installer, etc.") shall establish safety management regulations involving matters prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, such as emergency response measures against an oil leak, safety management systems, etc., and shall obtain authorization from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources before operating oil pipelines. The same shall apply to the modification thereof. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Oct. 1, 2025>
(2) A pipeline installer, etc. and their employees shall abide by safety management regulations referred to in paragraph (1).
(3) The Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources shall confirm whether a pipeline installer, etc. and employees thereof abide by safety management regulations referred to in paragraph (1). <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Oct. 1, 2025>
[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 28, 2008]
Article 7(Safety managers) #
(1) A pipeline installer, etc. shall appoint safety managers for the safe management of oil pipelines.
(2) When a safety manager has been dismissed or has retired from office, a pipeline installer, etc., who has appointed such safety manager pursuant to paragraph (1), shall appoint a new safety manager within the period prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources from the date the safety manager has been dismissed or has retired from office. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Oct. 1, 2025>
(3) A pipeline installer, etc., who have appointed safety managers, shall report the appointment to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources within the period prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources from the date of appointment of such safety managers. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Oct. 1, 2025>
(4) In any of the following cases, a pipeline installer, etc. shall designate a proxy and have him or her vicariously perform the duties of a safety manager temporarily:
1. Where a safety manager is temporarily unable to perform his or her duties due to travel, disease, or other reasons;
2. Where a successor is not appointed after a safety manager has been dismissed or has retired from office.
(5) The qualifications for, and scope of duties of, safety managers, the period of vicarious performance of their duties by proxy safety managers, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended on Dec. 27, 2016>
[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 28, 2008]
Article 8(Safety inspections) #
(1) A pipeline installer, etc. shall have oil pipelines undergo safety inspection by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Oct. 1, 2025>
(2) The targets, standards, methods, and period of safety inspection referred to in paragraph (1) and other matters necessary for inspection shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Oct. 1, 2025>
[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 28, 2008]
Article 8-2(Conduct of precise safety diagnosis) #
(1) A pipeline installer, etc. shall make sure that oil pipelines prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources undergo a precise safety diagnosis conducted by the Korea Gas Safety Corporation established under Article 28 of the High-Pressure Gas Safety Control Act (hereinafter referred to as the "Corporation") on a regular basis. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(2) The Corporation shall notify a person who has undergone a precise safety diagnosis of the findings of the precise safety diagnosis it has conducted under paragraph (1) and shall report such findings to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources, as prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(3) Where the findings of the precise safety diagnosis conducted under paragraph (1) indicate that the oil pipelines require improvement, etc., the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources may order a person who has undergone the precise safety diagnosis to take necessary measures, such as repair and reinforcement, as prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(4) The timing of, and standards and methods for a precise safety diagnosis of oil pipelines under paragraph (1) and other matters necessary therefor shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
[This Article Added on Jun. 15, 2021]
Article 9(Access to another person's land) #
(1) A pipeline installer, etc. may enter or use another person's land, or change or remove his or her plants or other obstacles therein if necessary for the field study concerning oil pipeline construction, land surveying, and execution of construction works.
(2) The Act on Acquisition of and Compensation for Land for Public Works Projects shall apply mutatis mutandis to the access to land, the use of land, and the change and removal of plants and other obstacles referred to in paragraph (1) and the compensation therefor.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 28, 2008]
Article 10(Preservation of oil pipelines) #
(1) When a pipeline installer acknowledges that another person's plants and other obstacles hinder or are likely to hinder the preservation of oil pipelines, the pipeline installer may change or remove such plants or other obstacles.
(2) Article 9(2) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the change and removal of plants and other obstacles referred to in paragraph (1).
[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 28, 2008]
Article 11(Delegation and entrustment of authority) #
(1) Part of the authority of the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources under this Act may be delegated to the Special Metropolitan City Mayor, other Metropolitan City Mayors, Do Governors, or Special Self-Governing Province Governor, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Oct. 1, 2025>
(2) The Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources may entrust the Corporation with the following business affairs within his or her authority vested under this Act: <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Jun. 15, 2021; Oct. 1, 2025>
1. Completion inspections provided in Article 5(1);
2. Use inspections provided in Article 5(3);
3. Confirmation as to whether safety management regulations are abided by as provided in Article 6(3);
4. Receipt of reports of appointment of safety managers provided in Article 7(3);
5. Safety inspections provided in Article 8(1).
[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 28, 2008]
Article 12(Legal fiction as public officials for purposes of penalty provisions) #
The executive officers and employees of the Corporation engaged in the duties entrusted by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources pursuant to Article 11 (2) shall be deemed public officials for purposes of applying penalty provisions under Articles 129 through 132 of the Criminal Act. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Oct. 1, 2025>
[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 28, 2008]
Article 13(Penalty provisions) #
(1) Any of the following persons shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not less than three years and not more than 10 years or by a fine not exceeding 150 million won, or such imprisonment with labor and fine may be imposed concurrently:
1. A person who obstructs the swift transportation of oil by damaging or eliminating oil pipelines or by impairing functions of oil pipelines;
2. A person who installs facilities on oil pipelines to steal oil.
(2) Any person who commits a crime referred to in paragraph (1)1 due to professional negligence or gross negligence shall be punished by imprisonment without labor for not more than five years or by a fine not exceeding 20 million won.
(3) Any person who obstructs the swift transportation of oil by manipulating oil pipelines without the consent of a pipeline installer, etc. shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not less than three years and not more than 10 years or by a fine not exceeding 150 million won, or such imprisonment with labor and fine may be imposed concurrently.
(4) Any person who causes the death of or inflicts injury upon another person, in violation of paragraph (1) or (3), shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for a limited term of not less than five years.
(5) Any person who causes the death of or inflicts injury upon another person by committing a crime referred to in paragraph (2) shall be punished by imprisonment without labor for not more than 10 years or by a fine not exceeding 100 million won.
(6) A person who attempts to commit a crime referred to in paragraphs (1) and (3) shall be punished.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 28, 2008]
Article 13-2(Penalty provisions) #
(1) Any person who steals oil from oil pipelines using facilities referred to in Article 13(1)2 shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not less than two years and not more than 10 years or by a fine not exceeding 100 million won.
(2) An attempted offender referred to in paragraph (1) shall be punished.
[This Article Added on Jun. 22, 2015]
Article 13-3(Penalty provisions) #
A person who, while knowing that the oil is stolen from oil pipelines, acquires, transfers, transports, or stores the oil, or who aid such act shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for at least one year but not more than 10 years or by a fine not exceeding 50 million won.
[This Article Added on Dec. 31, 2018]
Article 14(Penalty provisions) #
Any person who falls under any of the following shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than three years or a fine not exceeding 30 million won:
1. A person who installs oil pipelines without obtaining authorization or authorization for modification under the main clauses of Article 3(1) or (3);
2. A person who uses oil pipelines, in violation of Article 5(5);
3. A person who operates oil pipelines without obtaining authorization under safety management regulations under Article 6(1);
4. A person who breaches his or her duties to abide by safety management regulations under Article 6(2);
5. A person who fails to appoint a safety manager, in violation of Article 7(1) or (2).
[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 28, 2008]
Article 15(Penalty provisions) #
Any of the following persons shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not more than one year or by a fine not exceeding ten million won: <Amended on Jun. 15, 2021>
1. A person who refuses, obstructs, or evades a safety inspection under Article 8(1);
2. A person who refuses, obstructs, or evades a precise safety diagnosis under Article 8-2(1).
[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 28, 2008]
Article 16(Joint penalty provisions) #
(1) If the representative, an agent, or an employee of, or any other person employed by, a corporation commits an offense referred to in Articles 13 through 15 in connection with the business affairs of the corporation, not only shall the offender be punished, but also the corporation shall be punished by a fine under the relevant provisions; provided, the same shall not apply where such corporation has not been negligent in giving due attention and supervision concerning the relevant business affairs to prevent such offense.
(2) If an agent or employee of, or any other person employed by, an individual commits an offense referred to in Articles 13 through 15 in connection with the business affairs of the individual, not only the offender shall be punished, but also the individual shall be punished by a fine under the relevant provisions; provided, the same shall not apply where such individual has not been negligent in giving due attention and supervision concerning the relevant business affairs to prevent such offense.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 28, 2008]
Article 17(Administrative fines) #
(1) Any of the following persons shall be subject to an administrative fine not exceeding 30 million won: <Added on Dec. 27, 2016; Jun. 15, 2021>
1. A person who fails to designate a proxy, in violation of Article 7(4);
2. A person who fails to comply with an order issued under Article 8-2(3).
(2) Any of the following persons shall be subject to an administrative fine not exceeding three million won: <Amended on Dec. 27, 2016>
1. A person who fails to make a report under the proviso ofproviso of Article 3(1) or who makes a false report;
2. A person who fails to make a report under Article 3(3) or who makes a false report;
3. A person who refuses, obstructs, or evades confirmation under Article 6(3);
4. A person who fails to make a report under the proviso ofproviso of Article 7(3) or who makes a false report.
(3) Administrative fines under paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be imposed and collected by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Dec. 27, 2016; Oct. 1, 2025>
(4) Deleted. <Nov. 28, 2017>
(5) Deleted. <Nov. 28, 2017>
(6) Deleted. <Nov. 28, 2017>
[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 28, 2008]