A transport ministry official announces the government's new guidelines for in-flight use of portable batteries at Government Complex Sejong, Thursday. Yonhap
Starting March 1, passengers flying with Korean-owned airlines will be required to either keep their power banks in protective pouches or transparent plastic bags, or cover the connectors with insulating tape.
Additionally, storing power banks and electronic cigarettes in overhead bins will be prohibited, as will charging batteries using in-flight USB ports, sockets or other devices.
The government announced these stricter guidelines on Thursday, following a cabin fire on Jan. 28 inside an Air Busan aircraft, which was carrying 169 passengers and seven crew members, all of whom were able to evacuate safely.
The exact cause of the accident has not been confirmed, but there have been growing calls for stronger regulations on power banks, as a lithium-ion battery stored in an overhead bin is suspected to have started the fire.
In response, some airlines have already introduced tighter battery safety rules, even before the announcement of the government guidelines.
"Considering fears over the risk of fires caused by portable batteries, we decided to come up with preemptive measures," a transport ministry official said. "If the Air Busan fire is found to have been caused by a power bank, we will consider strengthening additional regulations through discussions with the International Civil Aviation Organization."
To promote the new guidelines, the government plans to place plastic bags near check-in counters and inside cabins.
Additionally, the government will limit the number of batteries each passenger can carry on board, while continuing to prohibit placing power banks and electronic cigarettes in checked baggage, as before.
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Security inspections will also be tightened to prevent passengers from bringing an excess number of batteries onto airplanes.
Those who need to carry more batteries for medical and other unusual reasons should undergo separate approval procedures and put stickers on their batteries.