ACT ON THE ACQUISITION OF ACADEMIC DEGREES THROUGH SELF-EDUCATION
Act No. 4227, Apr. 7, 1990
Amended by Act No. 4268, Dec. 27, 1990
Act No. 5208, Dec. 30, 1996
Act No. 6400, Jan. 29, 2001
Act No. 7073, Jan. 20, 2004
Act No. 8676, Dec. 14, 2007
Act No. 8707, Dec. 21, 2007
Act No. 8852, Feb. 29, 2008
Act No. 11690, Mar. 23, 2013
Act No. 13223, Mar. 27, 2015
The purpose of this Act is to provide opportunities for autodidacts to obtain bachelor’s degrees so as to embody the idea of continuing education and contribute to the fulfillment of individual potential and the development of the State and society.
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8707, Dec. 21, 2007]
| Article 2 (Duties of State) |
The State shall afford autodidacts necessary facilities so that they may take bachelor’s degrees (hereinafter referred to as "degrees").
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8707, Dec. 21, 2007]
| Article 3 (Examination Administration Authority, etc.) |
| (1) | The Minister of Education shall administer examinations for the acquisition of degrees by autodidacts (hereinafter referred to as "examination"). <Amended by Act No. 8852, Feb. 29, 2008; Act No. 11690, Mar. 23, 2013> |
| (2) | Necessary matters regarding the administration of examinations shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8707, Dec. 21, 2007]
| Article 4 (Qualifications for Application) |
| (1) | Those who may apply for examinations shall be those who are high school graduates or who are deemed to have the equal or higher scholastic competence. <Amended by Act No. 13223, Mar. 27, 2015> |
| (2) | Qualification to apply for certification tests for each course of study under Article 5 (1) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended by Act No. 13223, Mar. 27, 2015> |
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8707, Dec. 21, 2007]
| Article 5 (Steps and Subjects of Examination) |
| (1) | Each examination shall consist of step-by-step tests for the following courses of study, and any person who intends to apply for a comprehensive test for the acquisition of a degree under subparagraph 4 shall pass tests for each course of study under subparagraphs 1 through 3: Provided, That with respect to those who hold a certain academic background or qualifications as prescribed by Presidential Decree, all or part of certification tests for the courses of study under subparagraphs 1 through 3 or of subjects of such tests may be exempted: <Amended by Act No. 13223, Mar. 27, 2015> |
| 1. | Certification test for liberal arts courses; |
| 2. | Certification test for fundamental courses of special study; |
| 3. | Certification test for advanced courses of special study; |
| 4. | Comprehensive test for the acquisition of a degree. |
| (2) | The subjects of test for each course of study under paragraph (1) shall be determined by the Minister of Education. <Amended by Act No. 8852, Feb. 29, 2008; Act No. 11690, Mar. 23, 2013> |
| (3) | Any person who applies for an examination under paragraph (1) shall pay a fee prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Education. <Newly Inserted by Act No. 13223, Mar. 27, 2015> |
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8707, Dec. 21, 2007]
| Article 5-2 (Measures against Persons Cheating during Examination, etc.) |
| (1) | With respect to any person who has cheated in an examination or misrepresented any of his/her qualifications in an application, etc. for an examination, the Minister of Education shall suspend or nullify the examination taken by such person or his/her application for an examination subject, and may suspend his/her qualification to apply for the relevant examination or examination subject within a period of three years from the date such measure is taken. <Amended by Act No. 8852, Feb. 29, 2008; Act No. 11690, Mar. 23, 2013; Act No. 13223, Mar. 27, 2015> |
| (2) | Deleted. <by Act No. 13223, Mar. 27, 2015> |
| (3) | Detailed criteria, procedures, etc. necessary to take measures against those who have cheated in an examination under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Newly Inserted by Act No. 13223, Mar. 27, 2015> |
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8707, Dec. 21, 2007]
| Article 6 (Conferment, etc. of Degrees) |
| (1) | The Minister of Education shall confer a degree on any person who has passed a comprehensive test for the acquisition of such degree under Article 5 (1) 4, notwithstanding Article 35 (1) of the Higher Education Act. <Amended by Act No. 8852, Feb. 29, 2008; Act No. 11690, Mar. 23, 2013; Act No. 13223, Mar. 27, 2015> |
| (2) | The President of the National Institute for Lifelong Education under Article 19 of the Lifelong Education Act shall issue certificates of passing a comprehensive test for the acquisition of an academic degree under paragraph (1), certificates of an academic degree, and other necessary certificates, and matters necessary for the issuance of various kinds of certificates (including fees for the issuance thereof) shall be prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Education. <Newly Inserted by Act No. 13223, Mar. 27, 2015> |
| (3) | Necessary matters regarding the conferment of degrees under paragraph (1) and other scholastic administration shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
[This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8707, Dec. 21, 2007]
| Article 7 (Delegation of Authority) |
The Minister of Education may entrust the administration of examinations, scholastic administration and other affairs concerning the acquisition of degrees through self-education, to the President of the National Institute for Lifelong Education established pursuant to the Lifelong Education Act, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended by Act No. 8676, Dec. 14, 2008; Act No. 8852, Feb. 29, 2008; Act No. 11690, Mar. 23, 2013> [This Article Wholly Amended by Act No. 8707, Dec. 21, 2007]
ADDENDUM
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.
ADDENDA <Act No. 4268, Dec. 27, 1990>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation. (Proviso Omitted.)
Articles 2 through 10 Omitted.
ADDENDUM <Act No. 5208, Dec. 30, 1996>
This Act shall enter into force on January 1, 1997.
ADDENDA <Act No. 6400, Jan. 29, 2001>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation. (Proviso Omitted.)
Articles 2 through 4 Omitted.
ADDENDUM <Act No. 7073, Jan. 20, 2004>
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.
ADDENDA <Act No. 8676, Dec. 14, 2007>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force two months after the date of its promulgation. (Proviso Omitted.)
Articles 2 through 16 Omitted.
ADDENDUM <Act No. 8707, Dec. 21, 2007>
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.
ADDENDA <Act No. 8852, Feb. 29, 2008>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation. (Proviso Omitted.)
Articles 2 through 7 Omitted.
ADDENDA <Act No. 11690, Mar. 23, 2013>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
| (1) | This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation. |
Articles 2 through 7 Omitted.
ADDENDA <Act No. 13223, Mar. 27, 2015>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation: Provided, That the amended provisions of Articles 5 (3), 5-2 and 6 (2) shall enter into force six months after the date of their promulgation. Article 2 (Applicability to Persons Who Have Cheated in Examination, etc.)
The amended provisions of Article 5-2 shall apply beginning with the first person who has cheated in an examination or the first person who has made a false statement of matters concerning his/her qualification to apply for an examination in an application for the examination, etc.