SENIOR-FRIENDLY INDUSTRY PROMOTION ACT

Article 1(Purpose) #

The purpose of this Act is to contribute to the betterment of the quality of life of senior citizens and the sound growth of the national economy by supporting and promoting industries friendly to senior citizens and by laying down the foundation for the development of such industries.

Article 2(Definitions) #

The terms used in this Act are defined as follows: <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 18, 2010; Jun. 4, 2010; Mar. 23, 2013; Jul. 26, 2017; Oct. 1, 2025>

1. The term "senior-friendly product or service" means any of the following products and services for which senior citizens mainly have demands:

(a) Appliances, goods, or medical instruments that mainly senior citizens use or wear;

(b) Houses or any other facilities which mainly senior citizens reside in or use;

(c) Convalescence services for senior citizens;

(d) Financial and asset management services for senior citizens;

(e) Information devices and service for senior citizens;

(f) Entertainment, tourism, cultural activities, or health aid services for senior citizens;

(g) Services of agricultural tools or farming assistance for senior citizens;

(h) Other products or services specified by Presidential Decree as those developed for senior citizens;

2. The term "senior-friendly industries" means the businesses of research, development, manufacture, supply, build, distribution, or sales of any senior-friendly products or services;

3. The term "senior-friendly business entity" means a business entity who engages in the senior-friendly industries;

4. The term “competent central administrative agency” means a central administrative agency that has jurisdiction over any senior-friendly product or service, including the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and any other central administrative agencies prescribed by Presidential Decree.

[Enforcement Date: Jan. 2, 2026]

Article 3(Responsibilities of the State and local governments) #

The State and local governments shall formulate and implement a policy necessary for laying down the foundation for the senior-friendly industries and strengthening the competitiveness of such industries.

Article 4(Plan for development of senior-friendly industries) #

(1) The head of each competent central administrative agency shall ensure that a plan for the development of senior-friendly industries (hereinafter referred to as "plan for the development of senior-friendly industries") is included when he or she establishes and implements the basic plan for low birth rate in an aging society and an annual implementation plan therefor under Articles 20 and 21 of the Framework Act on Low Birth Rate in an Aging Society.

(2) The plan for the development of senior-friendly industries shall include the following matters:

1. The basic direction of the plan for the development of senior-friendly industries;

2. A policy on the development of each area of senior-friendly industries;

3. Establishment of the foundation for the senior-friendly industries;

4. Securing and allocation of financial resources for the development of senior-friendly industries;

5. Allotment of roles of central administrative agencies involved with senior-friendly industries;

6. Other matters necessary for the development of senior-friendly industries.

Article 5(Protection of consumer interests) #

The State and local governments shall formulate a policy on the following measures for the protection of consumer interests in senior-friendly products and services to vitalize senior-friendly industries:

1. Advertisement, education, and research for the sound use of senior-friendly products and services;

2. Supporting and fostering sound organizational activities of consumers;

3. Prevention of hazards to the life, body, and property of consumers;

4. Speedy and fair remedies for complaints and injuries of consumers;

5. Other matters pertaining to the protection of consumers of senior-friendly products and services.

Article 6(Cultivation of professional human resources) #

(1) The State and local governments shall each cultivate professional human resources necessary for the development of senior-friendly industries.

(2) The State and local governments may each designate a college or university under Article 2 of the Higher Education Act or a research institute, an agency, or an organization established for research on or activities for senior-friendly industries (hereinafter referred to as "appropriate senior-friendly institute") as a training institute of professional human resources in order to cultivate professional human resources under paragraph (1).

Article 7(Encouragement of research and development of senior-friendly industries) #

(1) The State and local governments shall formulate a support policy for encouraging research and development for the development of technology for senior-friendly industries and the improvement of their services and strengthening the international competitiveness of senior-friendly industries.

(2) The State and local governments shall facilitate collaborative research between academic communities, research institutes, and industrial communities in order to effectively conduct the development of senior-friendly products and services.

Article 8(Standardization of senior-friendly industries) #

(1) The head of each competent central administrative agency may promote the following activities for standardization in order to improve the quality of senior-friendly products and services and secure the compatibility of such products and services; in such cases, the products and services specified in Article 2 of the Industrial Standardization Act shall be governed by that Act:

1. Establishment, amendment, repeal, and diffusion of standards of senior-friendly products and services;

2. Surveying, research, and development of domestic and foreign standards regarding senior-friendly industries;

3. Other activities necessary for the standardization of senior-friendly industries.

(2) The head of each competent central administrative agency may assign an appropriate senior-friendly institute specified by Presidential Decree to vicariously conduct the activities under paragraph (1) in order to efficiently promote such activities.

(3) The head of each competent central administrative agency may grant subsidies to an institution designated as an agency under paragraph (2) or Article 9 (3) for expenses incurred in carrying out the activities under paragraph (1) or Article 9 (2).

Article 9(Facilitation of international cooperation and entry into overseas markets) #

(1) The State and local governments shall read the international trend of the senior-friendly industries and facilitate international cooperation.

(2) The State and local governments may initiate projects for international exchanges of technology and human resources related to the senior-friendly industries, international standardization, and joint international research and development in order to facilitate international cooperation of the senior-friendly industries and their entry into overseas markets.

(3) The State and local governments may support any person who carries out a project under paragraph (2) or assign an appropriate senior-friendly institute to vicariously carry out a project under paragraph (2).

Article 10(Establishment and designation of support center for senior-friendly industries) #

(1) The head of each competent central administrative agency may establish a support center for senior-friendly industries (hereinafter referred to as "support center"), or may designate a research institute, organization, or corporation carrying out a supportive project for senior-friendly industries as a support center, in order to efficiently support the senior-friendly industries.

(2) Each support center shall undertake the following activities: <Amended on Aug. 17, 2021>

1. Surveying and research on systems for the development of senior-friendly industries;

2. Research on technology and standardization necessary for the development of senior-friendly industries;

3. Projects to establish the foundation, such as the establishment of supportive facilities for the vitalization of senior-friendly industries;

4. Projects to cultivate and support professional human resources for senior-friendly industries;

5. Activities to assist in starting up new businesses in senior-friendly industries and in business management thereof and projects to collect, share, and utilize information;

6. Assistance in active distribution, international cooperation, and entry into overseas markets for the development of the senior-friendly industries;

7. Support to senior-friendly business entities;

8. Designation of exemplary products under Article 12 (3);

9. Other activities necessary for the development of the senior-friendly industries.

(3) The head of each competent central administrative agency may grant subsidies, within budget limits, to an institute designated as a support center for the expenses incurred in undertaking the activities under paragraph (2).

(4) Necessary matters concerning the designation and operation of support centers, including the eligibility criteria for such designation, shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 11(Financial support) #

The State and local governments may each implement policies necessary for banking and financial support in order to smoothly promote the technical innovation of senior-friendly business entities and the establishment of a foundation for senior-friendly industries.

Article 12(Designation and indication of exemplary products) #

(1) The head of each competent central administrative agency may designate any senior-friendly product of good quality as an exemplary senior-friendly product (hereinafter referred to as "good product"). <Amended on Aug. 17, 2021>

(2) Where an exemplary product is designated pursuant to paragraph (1), such product may use a mark indicating the designation of an exemplary good. <Amended on Aug. 17, 2021>

(3) The head of each competent central administrative agency may assign a support center under Article 10 to undertake the designation of exemplary products under paragraph (1). <Amended on Aug. 17, 2021>

(4) Necessary matters concerning the eligibility criteria and procedure regarding exemplary products, methods of indication, and other relevant matters shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended on Aug. 17, 2021>

[Title Amended on Aug. 17, 2021]

Article 13(Cancellation of designation of exemplary products and exemplary business entities) #

(1) The head of each competent central administrative agency may, if any of the following events has occurred, cancel the designation of an exemplary product designated pursuant to Article 12 (1); provided, the designation must be canceled without exception if a case falls under subparagraph 1: <Amended on Aug. 17, 2021>

1. If a person obtained the designation of an exemplary product by deceit or in any other fraudulent way;

2. If a person breaches the eligibility criteria for the designation under Article 12 (4).

(2) The head of each competent central administrative agency shall, when he or she has canceled designation pursuant to paragraph (1), inform the head of the relevant central administrative agency and the head of the relevant local government thereof.

[Title Amended on Aug. 17, 2021]

Article 14(Prohibition against indication of exemplary products) #

No person who fails to obtain the designation of an exemplary product under Article 12 (1) or whose designation is canceled pursuant to Article 13 (1) shall use a mark indicating the designation of an exemplary product. <Amended on Aug. 17, 2021>

[Title Amended on Aug. 17, 2021]

Article 15(Support to and recovery of funds from manufacturers of exemplary products) #

(1) The State and local governments may conduct the following activities to support the manufacturers of exemplary products: <Amended on Aug. 17, 2021>

1. Subsidization of the funds for the development of technology and assistance in commercialization of product prototypes;

2. Technical guidance and assistance in obtaining quality certification under relevant Acts and subordinate statutes;

3. Assistance in use of facilities and equipment for research;

4. Other support necessary for fostering senior-friendly industries.

(2) The State or a local government shall, if the designation of a manufacturer of exemplary products is canceled pursuant to Article 13 (1) 1, recover an amount equivalent to support funds provided. <Amended on Aug. 17, 2021>

(3) Necessary matters concerning support and the recovery of support funds under paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

[Title Amended on Aug. 17, 2021]

Article 16(Administrative fines) #

(1) Any of the following persons shall be subject to an administrative fine not exceeding five million won: <Amended on Aug. 17, 2021>

1. A person who obtains designation under Article 12 (1) by fraud or other improper means;

2. A person who uses a mark of an exemplary product in violation of Article 14.

(2) Administrative fines under paragraph (1) shall be imposed and collected by the head of each competent central administrative agency, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended on Dec. 11, 2018>

(3) Deleted. <Dec. 11, 2018>

(4) Deleted. <Dec. 11, 2018>

(5) Deleted. <Dec. 11, 2018>