ASTRONOMY AND SPACE ACT
Act No. 10226, Apr. 1, 2010
Amended by Act No. 11383, Mar. 21, 2012
Act No. 11690, Mar. 23, 2013
Act No. 14839, Jul. 26, 2017
Act No. 14906, Oct. 24, 2017
The purpose of this Act is, by providing for basic matters concerning the astronomical work, to prescribe the standardized calendar of the State, to promote research on astronomy and space, and further to contribute to the dissemination of the relevant knowledge.
The terms used in this Act shall be defined as follows: <Amended by Act No. 11383, Mar. 21, 2012; Act No. 14906, Oct. 24, 2017>
| 1. | The term "astronomical work" means duties related to space observation and other work incidental thereto; |
| 2. | The term "astronomical calendar" means the method of determining dates, time of appearance and disappearance of celestial bodies, etc. through computation of orbital movement; |
| 3. | The term "leap second" means correcting the gap between the world standard time and the coordinated universal time occurring from the irregularity of the rotation velocity of the Earth not to exceed a second; |
| 4. | The term "Gregorian calendar" means a solar calendar system whereby the length of a year is 365.2425 days and wherein a leap year is included; |
| 5. | The term "leap year" means a year which consists of a total of 366 days by adding February 29 which is an additional day in the Gregorian calendar; |
| 6. | The term "important item required for creating a calendar" means any material displaying such information as holidays of government offices, anniversaries, and the 24 divisions of the year, based upon which a calendar is created. |
| Article 3 (Relationship with Other Acts) |
With respect to astronomical work, this Act shall apply except as otherwise prescribed by other Acts.
| Article 4 (Obligations of Government, etc.) |
| (1) | The Government shall prepare and implement policies containing the following matters for astronomical work: |
| 1. | Matters concerning the expansion of research and facilities, etc. for research of astronomical phenomena; |
| 2. | Matters concerning the dissemination of knowledge, education and training relating to astronomical work; |
| 3. | Matters concerning cooperation with foreign governments, international organizations, etc. with respect to astronomical work; |
| 4. | Matters concerning cooperation among Korean research institutes, universities, colleges, etc. for efficiently performing astronomical work. |
| (2) | Universities, colleges, research institutes, enterprises, individuals, etc. that conduct research related to astronomical work shall proactively cooperate in the policies referred to in paragraph (1). |
| Article 5 (Astronomical Calendar) |
| (1) | Dates computed by the astronomical calendar shall be based on the solar-based Gregorian calendar; and the lunar calendar may also be used concurrently. |
| (2) | For efficiently managing the astronomical calendar, the Minister of Science and ICT shall announce a leap second, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended by Act No. 11690, Mar. 23, 2013; Act No. 14839, Jul. 26, 2017> |
| (3) | The Minister of Science and ICT shall prepare important items required for creating a calendar as prescribed by Presidential Decree, which requires holidays of government offices to be marked in red to ensure that the public can easily recognize such holidays; and shall publish such information in the Official Gazette. <Newly Inserted by Act No. 14906, Oct. 24, 2017> |
| Article 6 (Research, etc. of Astronomical Phenomena) |
| (1) | The Minister of Science and ICT shall install and operate astronomical observation equipment, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended by Act No. 11690, Mar. 23, 2013; Act No. 14839, Jul. 26, 2017> |
| (2) | The Minister of Science and ICT may subsidize within budgetary limits the expenses required by research institutes, universities, colleges, etc. that perform astronomical work, for facilitating the dissemination and utilization of astronomical information acquired through astronomical research and observation. <Amended by Act No. 11690, Mar. 23, 2013; Act No. 14839, Jul. 26, 2017> |
| Article 7 (Dissemination of Knowledge concerning Astronomical Work) |
The Minister of Science and ICT shall endeavor to enhance the interest of the people in astronomical research and to make knowledge concerning astronomical work disseminated and utilized extensively. <Amended by Act No. 11690, Mar. 23, 2013; Act No. 14839, Jul. 26, 2017>
| Article 8 (Education and Training of Persons Engaged in Astronomical Work, etc.) |
| (1) | In order to improve the expertise of persons engaged in astronomical work and to enhance the interest and degree of understanding of the people in astronomy, the Minister of Science and ICT may conduct education and training through universities, colleges, research institutes, or other institutions or organizations related to astronomy. <Amended by Act No. 11690, Mar. 23, 2013; Act No. 14839, Jul. 26, 2017> |
| (2) | Necessary matters concerning the target persons, method, etc. of education and training under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
ADDENDUM
This Act shall enter into force three months after the date of its promulgation.
ADDENDUM <Act No. 11383, Mar. 21, 2012>
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.
ADDENDA <Act No. 14839, Jul. 26, 2017>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation: Provided, That the amended provisions of the Acts, which were promulgated before this Act enters into force, but the date on which they are to enter into force, has not arrived yet, among the Acts amended pursuant to Article 5 of the Addenda, shall enter into force on the enforcement dates of such Acts, respectively.
Articles 2 through 6 Omitted.
ADDENDUM <Act No. 14906, Oct. 24, 2017>
This Act shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.