READING CULTURE PROMOTION ACT
Act No. 8100, Dec. 28, 2006
Amended by Act No. 8852, Feb. 29, 2008
Act No. 9470, Mar. 5, 2009
Act No. 11690, Mar. 23, 2013
Act No. 14428, Dec. 20, 2016
CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS
The purpose of this Act is to contribute to strengthening national competitiveness, guaranteeing citizens equal opportunities for reading activities, and improving the quality of their life by providing for fundamental matters regarding the promotion of reading culture so as to improve citizens' intellectual powers and emotional health and prepare the groundwork for lifelong education.
The terms used in this Act shall be defined as follows: <Amended by Act No. 14428, Dec. 20, 2016>
| 1. | The term "reading culture" means mental cultural activities, mainly focused on reading works expressed in written form and writing such works, and cultural outcomes from such activities; |
| 2. | The term "reading material" means material expressed in written form and necessary for reading activities, such as printed matters, including books and serial publications, audio-visual material, digital data, and special material for the disabled; |
| 3. | The term "underprivileged reader" means a person who is excluded from reading culture or is unable to use reading material due to physical disabilities, such as a visual disability or aging, or economic, social, geographical restrictions, etc.; |
| Article 3 (Responsibilities of State and Local Governments) |
| (1) | The State and each local government shall establish and enforce policies necessary for the promotion of reading culture. |
| (2) | The State and local governments shall secure financial resources necessary to establish and implement policies under paragraph (1), and mutually cooperate. <Newly Inserted by Act No. 14428, Dec. 20, 2016> |
| Article 4 (Relationships with other Acts) |
Except as otherwise provided for in other Acts, the promotion of reading culture shall be governed by the provisions of this Act.
CHAPTER II ESTABLISHMENT OF BASIC PLAN FOR PROMOTION OF READING CULTURE, ETC.
| Article 5 (Basic Plans for Promotion of Reading Culture) |
| (1) | The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall establish and implement a basic plan for the promotion of reading culture (hereinafter referred to as "basic plan") every five years, subject to consultation with heads of appropriate central administrative agencies. <Amended by Act No. 8852, Feb. 29, 2008; Act No. 9470, Mar. 5, 2009> |
| (2) | The basic plan shall include the following matters: <Amended by Act No. 14428, Dec. 20, 2016> |
| 1. | The basic direction and objectives of polices for the promotion of reading culture; |
| 2. | Improvement of facilities for the promotion of reading culture, such as libraries, and securing reading material; |
| 3. | Matters concerning improvement of reading environment for underprivileged readers and neglected areas; |
| 4. | Matters concerning the encouragement, protection, and rearing of reading activities and the procurement of financial resources necessary therefor; |
| 5. | Matters concerning the promotion of production and distribution of reading material necessary for the promotion of reading culture; |
| 6. | Survey and research for the promotion of reading culture; |
| 7. | Other matters considered necessary for the promotion of reading culture. |
| (3) | A related institution or organization shall cooperate with the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, upon receiving a request from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism in relation to the establishment and implementation of the basic plan, unless any extenuating circumstance exists to the contrary. <Amended by Act No. 8852, Feb. 29, 2008> |
| (4) | Necessary matters concerning the procedures for the establishment of the basic plan and other relevant matters shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| Article 6 (Annual Implementation Plans) |
| (1) | The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the head of each related central administrative agency, and the Special Metropolitan City Mayor or each Metropolitan City Mayor, Do Governor, or Special Self-Governing Province Mayor (hereafter referred to as "Mayor/Do Governor" in this Article) shall each establish and implement annual implementation plans in compliance with the relevant basic plan. <Amended by Act No. 8852, Feb. 29, 2008> |
| (2) | A related institution or organization shall cooperate with the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the head of a related central administrative agency, or a Mayor/Do Governor, upon receiving a request from any of them in relation to the establishment and implementation of an annual implementation plan, unless any extenuating circumstance exists to the contrary. <Amended by Act No. 8852, Feb. 29, 2008> |
| (3) | Necessary matters concerning the establishment and implementation of annual implementation plans under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
CHAPTER III (Article 7) Deleted.
CHAPTER IV PROMOTION OF READING
| Article 8 (Providing Opportunities for Reading Education) |
The State and each local government shall endeavor to provide all citizens with equal opportunities for reading education.
| Article 9 (Promotion of Reading in Communities) |
| (1) | The head of each local government shall prepare reading facilities necessary for local residents to make reading a part of their daily routine, develop conditions for the promotion of reading, and provide support for such efforts. |
| (2) | The head of each local government shall hold events related to reading at least once a year or provide support to an institution or organization related to reading to hold such events. |
| Article 10 (Promotion of Reading in Schools) |
| (1) | The Minister of Education shall endeavor to improve the linguistic abilities of all citizens, including skills in reading and writing, throughout all educational courses so that every citizen can enjoy benefits from the promotion of reading culture while receiving school education. <Amended by Act No. 8852, Feb. 29, 2008; Act No. 11690, Mar. 23, 2013> |
| (2) | The Minister of Education shall establish and enforce a policy, including the following matters, for the promotion of reading culture in schools: <Amended by Act No. 8852, Feb. 29, 2008; Act No. 11690, Mar. 23, 2013> |
| 1. | Matters concerning the establishment and implementation of plans for facilitating reading education in schools; |
| 2. | Matters concerning the establishment and expansion of school libraries and the improvement of the environment thereof; |
| 3. | Matters concerning securing reading material in schools and the placement of guidance teachers for reading; |
| 4. | Matters concerning research, development, and diffusion of curricula and educational contents related to reading education; |
| 5. | Other matters necessary for the promotion of reading culture in schools. |
| (3) | The head of each school shall encourage students to organize readers' groups, establish and operate a school library, create circumstances necessary for such activities and provide support for such activities so that students can make reading a part of their daily routines. |
| (4) | The head of each school shall operate a school library so that reading activities can have an organic connection with activities of the library. |
| (5) | The head of each school may assign one or more librarians or teachers to take exclusive charge of reading education so as to make reading in schools a part of daily routine. |
| Article 11 (Promotion of Reading in Workplace) |
| (1) | The State and each local government shall seek for measures necessary for boosting reading activities in the workplace. |
| (2) | The State and each local government shall encourage to organize readers' groups in the workplace to boost workers' reading activities and may seek for measures necessary for cultivating such groups. |
| Article 12 (Events in Reading Month, etc.) |
| (1) | The State shall designate Reading Month so as to inspire citizens with enthusiasm for reading, have them make reading a part of their daily routines, and induce them to participate actively in the promotion of reading culture. |
| (2) | The State or a local government may grant a reward, prize, or scholarship to persons who have contributed to the promotion of reading and persons who have shown excellent performance in reading. |
| (3) | Necessary matters concerning the designation of Reading Month, events related to reading, granting rewards, prizes, and scholarships under paragraphs (1) and (2) and other relevant matters shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
CHAPTER V SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS
| Article 13 (Cooperation with Related Institutions) |
The State and each local government shall cooperate with cultural or educational institutions, such as libraries and schools, so that the basic plan can be implemented smoothly.
| Article 14 (Administrative and Financial Measures) |
The State and each local government shall take administrative and financial measures necessary for carrying out programs for the promotion of reading culture and other necessary measures.
| Article 15 (Annual Report) |
The Government shall present to the National Assembly an annual report on policies on the promotion of reading and results of the enforcement of such policies each year before its annual session opens.
ADDENDUM
This Act shall enter into force on April 5, 2007.
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.
ADDENDUM <Act No. 9470, Mar. 5, 2009>
This Act shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.
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.
ADDENDUM <Act No. 14428, Dec. 20, 2016>
This Act shall enter into force three months after the date of its promulgation.