To improve the working conditions of nurses in Korea, it is first necessary to review the special provisions on working hours under the Labor Standards Act (Article 59). Even if a special extension of working hours is necessary due to the nature of the work, it needs to be applied restrictively. Rather than comprehensively regulating the health industry as a business subjected to special exceptions, as is currently the case, it is necessary to apply it limitedly by reflecting the characteristics of hospitals and wards. Consideration should be given to limiting it to hospitals responding to infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, and limiting it to ERs or ICUs. Moreover, it is necessary to establish appropriate personnel standards and take binding measures during a crisis. In 2021, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced a standard for placement of nurses in COVID-19 wards, but it was not complied with for simply being a recommendation, without any binding force. It is necessary to devise measures to secure effectiveness, such as imposing disadvantageous measures on the relevant institutions for violating the standards. Also, it is necessary to inspect the commanding system of the central and local governments and strengthen the on-site supervision function. The responsibilities of the central and local governments stipulated in the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety and the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act must be properly performed in a crisis situation. In addition, it is necessary to investigate and regulate whether compliance with personnel placement standards, appropriateness of government subsidy use, guarantee of working condition, job education and safety education are properly observed at medical institutions, including public hospitals. 240