Statutes of the Republic of Korea

Article 1 (Purpose)

The purpose of this Act is to contribute to improving mutual understanding of culture among countries by establishing a foundation for international cultural exchanges, as well as to developing global culture by enhancing the diversity and creativity of Korean culture, by prescribing matters necessary to promote international cultural exchanges.

Article 2 (Definitions)

The term "international cultural exchanges" in this Act means international cooperation and activities provided or performed to enhance mutual understanding of culture (referring to culture in a broad sense encompassing art, tourism, etc.) among countries in relevant fields, such as culture, art, and tourism, under any of the following statutes:

1.	The Framework Act on Culture;

2.	The Framework Act on the Promotion of Cultural Industries;

3.	The Framework Act on the Video Industry Promotion;

4.	The Framework Act on Korean Language;

5.	The Culture and Arts Promotion Act;

6.	The Content Industry Promotion Act;

7.	The Promotion of the Motion Pictures and Video Products Act;

8.	The Publishing Industry Promotion Act;

9.	The Print Culture Industry Promotion Act;

10.	The Craft Industry Promotion Act;

11.	The Museum and Art Gallery Support Act;

12.	The Literature Promotion Act;

13.	The Act on Promotion of the Humanities and Humanistic Spirit and Culture;

14.	The Tourism Promotion Act;

15.	The Popular Culture and Arts Industry Development Act;

16.	The Culture and Arts Education Support Act;

17.	The Libraries Act;

18.	The Special Act on the Development of Asian Cultural Hub City;

19.	The Act on the Protection and Promotion of Cultural Diversity.

Article 3 (Responsibilities of State and Local Governments)

(1)	The State and local governments shall formulate and implement comprehensive policies to promote international cultural exchanges.

(2)	The State and local governments shall prepare administrative and financial support measures necessary to promote international cultural exchanges.

Article 4 (Relationship with Other Acts)

Except as otherwise expressly provided for in other Acts, this Act shall apply to the promotion of international cultural exchanges.

Article 5 (Formulation of Comprehensive Plans to Promote International Cultural Exchanges)

(1)	The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall formulate a comprehensive plan to promote international cultural exchanges (hereinafter referred to as "comprehensive plan") every five years, in order to promote international cultural exchanges.

(2)	A comprehensive plan shall include the following:

1.	Objectives of, and basic direction-setting for, policies to promote international cultural exchanges;

2.	Formulating, coordinating, evaluating, and institutionally improving major policies to promote international cultural exchanges;

3.	Measures to raise and manage finances to promote international cultural exchanges;

4.	Establishing a foundation for promoting international cultural exchanges;

5.	Measures to promote international cultural exchanges by local governments;

6.	Measures to promote international cultural exchanges by the private sector;

7.	Nurturing professional manpower to promote international cultural exchanges;

8.	Measures to distribute information relating to international cultural exchanges;

9.	Any other matters deemed necessary by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, to promote international cultural exchanges.

(3)	Except as otherwise expressly provided for in paragraphs (1) and (2), matters necessary to formulate comprehensive plans shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 6 (Formulation and Execution of Implementation Plans to Promote International Cultural Exchanges)

(1)	The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall formulate and execute an implementation plan to promote international cultural exchanges (hereinafter referred to as "implementation plan") pursuant to the relevant comprehensive plan each year.

(2)	Matters necessary to formulate and execute implementation plans shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 7 (Formulation and Execution of Regional Plans to Promote International Cultural Exchanges)

(1)

The Special Metropolitan City Mayor, a Metropolitan City Mayor, a Special Self-Governing City Mayor, a Do Governor, and a Special Self-Governing Province Governor (hereinafter referred to as "Mayor/Do Governor") shall formulate and implement a regional plan to promote international cultural exchanges (hereinafter referred to as "regional plan") for the jurisdiction, pursuant to the relevant comprehensive plan each year.

(2)	The Mayor/Do Governor shall submit a regional plan and the records of implementing such plan to the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism each year, as prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 8 (Establishment and Operation of Regional Council on International Cultural Exchanges)

(1)	The Mayor/Do Governor may establish a regional council on international cultural exchanges (hereafter referred to as "regional council" in this Article) in order to hold consultations on the promotion of international cultural exchanges for the jurisdiction.

(2)	Each regional council shall consult on the following matters:

1.	Formulating and implementing its regional plan;

2.	Cooperation, role sharing, and coordination in relation to international cultural exchange policies within the region;

3.	Any other matters tabled at the regional council by its chairperson, as deemed necessary to promote international cultural exchanges for the jurisdiction.

(3)	A regional council shall be comprised of not more than 20 persons, including one chairperson.

(4)

The Vice Mayor or Vice Governor of the Special Metropolitan City, a Metropolitan City, a Special Self-Governing City, a Do, and a Special Self-Governing Province (hereafter referred to as "City/Do" in this Article) shall serve as the chairperson of a regional council. In such cases, where at least two Vice Mayors or Vice Governors exist in the relevant City/Do, the Vice Mayor or Vice Governor designated by the relevant Mayor/Do Governor shall serve as the chairperson.

(5)	Members of a regional council shall be appointed or commissioned by the relevant Mayor/Do Governor from among the following persons:

1.	Public officials in charge of international cultural exchanges for Sis/Guns/Gus (Gus refer to autonomous Gus) under his/her jurisdiction;

2.	Experts or persons related to international cultural exchanges, who have substantial expertise and experience in international cultural exchanges for the relevant City/Do.

(6)	Except as otherwise expressly provided for in paragraphs (1) through (5), matters necessary for the composition and operation of a regional council shall be prescribed by ordinance of the relevant local government.

Article 9 (Nurturing Professional Manpower)

(1)	The State and local governments shall prepare policies necessary to nurture professional manpower related to international cultural exchanges.

(2)	The State and local governments may provide support for education, training, research and other activities of professional manpower related to international cultural exchanges.

(3)	Matters necessary for support referred to in paragraph (2) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 10 (Fact-Finding Surveys, etc.)

(1)	To efficiently formulate and execute a comprehensive plan and implementation plan, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may conduct a fact-finding survey or prepare statistics on international cultural exchanges in Korea and overseas.

(2)	Matters necessary for the timing and methods of conducting fact-finding surveys, as well as for the compiling and management of statistics under paragraph (1), shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

(3)	Except as otherwise expressly provided for in this Act, the Statistics Act shall apply to compiling statistics referred to in paragraph (1).

Article 11 (Establishment and Operation of International Cultural Exchanges Information System)

(1)	In order to systematically maintain and manage information on international cultural exchanges, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may establish and operate an international cultural exchange information system.

(2)	Matters necessary for the scope and details of information as well as for the establishment and operation of the international cultural exchange information system referred to in paragraph (1), shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 12 (Designation, etc. of Agency　with Exclusive Responsibility)

(1)	To efficiently implement projects necessary for promoting international cultural exchanges, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may designate an agency with exclusive responsibility for promoting international cultural exchanges (hereinafter referred to as "exclusive agency").

(2)	The agency with exclusive responsibility shall implement any of the following projects:

1.	A project entrusted pursuant to Article 16 (2);

2.	Any other projects deemed necessary by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, to achieve the purpose of designating the exclusive agency.

(3)

Where the agency with exclusive responsibility falls under any of the following cases, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may revoke designation thereof or issue an order for rectification: Provided, That where the exclusive agency falls under subparagraph 1, he/she shall revoke its designation:

1.	Where it is designated as such by fraud or other improper means;

2.	Where it ceases to meet any of the requirements for designation;

3.	Where it has difficulty continuously performing its duties due to any other substantial reason related to public interests.

(4)	The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may subsidize expenses incurred in operating the agency with exclusive responsibility, within budgetary limits.

(5)	Except as otherwise expressly provided for in paragraphs (1) through (4), the requirements for designation of the agency with exclusive responsibility, revocation of its designation, subsidization, and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 13 (Subsidization)

(1)	The State and local governments may subsidize expenses incurred for projects, activities or facilities for promoting international cultural exchanges, within budgetary limits.

(2)	Matters necessary for subsidizing expenses under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 14 (Rewards)

(1)	The State and local governments may select, and grant rewards to, institutions, corporations, organizations, individuals, etc. that have rendered distinguished service in promoting international cultural exchanges.

(2)	Matters necessary for granting rewards under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 15 (Cooperation from Relevant Agencies, etc.)

(1)

Where deemed necessary to perform any of the following duties, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may request the heads of relevant central administrative agencies, the heads of local governments, and the heads of relevant institutions, corporations or organizations, to provide necessary cooperation, such as submitting data. In such cases, the heads of relevant central administrative agencies, etc. in receipt of such request shall provide cooperation, except in extenuating circumstances:

1.	Formulating a comprehensive plan or implementation plan;

2.	Conducing a fact-finding survey or compiling statistics pursuant to Article 10;

3.	Establishing and operating an international cultural exchange information system under Article 11.

Article 16 (Delegation and Entrustment of Authority, etc.)

(1)	Part of the authority of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism conferred by this Act, may be delegated to the Mayor/Do Governor, as prescribed by Presidential Decree.

(2)	Part of the duties of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism imposed by this Act, may be entrusted to the agency with exclusive responsibility, as prescribed by Presidential Decree.

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INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROMOTION ACT