The purpose of this Act is to promote and disseminate the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture throughout the society, to nurture creative talent, thereby enriching people’s emotions and wisdom and improving the quality of life.
| Article 2 (Basic Ideology) |
The basic ideology of this Act is to ensure that the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture are promoted, based on human dignity and in harmony with social and cultural values, and becomes a driving force of economic and social development; to enable people’s autonomy and creativity to be respected; and to enable the humanities to develop in balance with natural sciences and social sciences.
The definitions of terms used in this Act shall be as follows:
| 1. | The term “humanity” means humans, fundamental problems of humans, human thought, and human culture; |
| 2. | The term “the humanities” means studies of humanity such as linguistics, literature, history, philosophy, religion, etc.; studies adopting humanistic methodologies such as intuition, experience, expression, understanding and interpretation; and multidisciplinary studies based thereon; |
| 3. | The term “humanistic spirit and culture” means activities aiming for spiritual values based on humanity, and tangible and intangible cultural products. |
| Article 4 (Duty of the State and Local Governments) |
The State and local governments (including offices of education; hereinafter the same shall apply) shall establish and implement policies necessary for the promotion and proliferation in society of the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture.
| Article 5 (Relationship with other Acts) |
Except as otherwise expressly provided for in other Acts, matters regarding promoting the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture, shall be governed by this Act.
| Article 6 (Establishment of Deliberative Committee on Promotion of the Humanities and Humanistic Spirit and Culture and Issues to be Deliberated upon) |
| (1) | The deliberative committee on the promotion of the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture (hereinafter referred to as “deliberative committee”) shall be established under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Education and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism to deliberate on major issues regarding promoting the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture. |
| (2) | The deliberative committee shall deliberate on the following: |
| 1. | Establishing mid- and long-term policy goals and direction and the basic plan regarding promoting the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture pursuant to Article 9; |
| 2. | Formulating implementation plans and performance records pursuant to Article 10; |
| 3. | Designation of the specialized agency pursuant to Article 18; |
| 4. | Matters regarding the improvement of system for promoting the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture; |
| 5. | Other matters regarding the duties and operation of the deliberative committee, referred to the meeting by the head commissioner. |
| (3) | Detailed matters regarding deliberation by the deliberative committee provided for in paragraph (2) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| Article 7 (Organization and Operation of Deliberative Committee) |
| (1) | The deliberative committee shall consist of up to 20 members, including one head commissioner. |
| (2) | The head commissioner shall be nominated jointly by the Minister of Education and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism from among persons satisfying subparagraph 3, and the members shall be the following persons: |
| 1. | The Vice-Minister of Education, the Vice-Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Vice-Minister designated by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism), and other Vice-Minister-level public officials of the relevant central administrative agency prescribed by Presidential Decree; |
| 2. | The head of the specialized agency designated pursuant to Article 18 and the head of the agency related to promoting the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture prescribed by Presidential Decree; |
| 3. | A person appointed by the Minister of Education and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, from among those with abundant expertise and experience regarding the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture. |
| (3) | The head commissioner shall represent the deliberative committee, and convene and chair committee meetings. |
| (4) | Other matters necessary for organizing, operating, etc. the deliberative committee shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| Article 8 (Application of Deliberation Result of Deliberative Committee) |
| (1) | The Minister of Education and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall notify the head of the relevant central administrative agency and the head of the local governments of the outcomes from deliberation. |
| (2) | The head of the relevant central administrative agency and the head of the local governments shall establish and implement policies for promoting the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture, while taking into consideration the outcomes from the deliberation. |
| Article 9 (Establishment, etc. of Basic Plan) |
| (1) | The Minister of Education and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall set mid- and long-term policy goals and direction for promoting the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture; and shall finalize such goals and directions after having them deliberated upon by the deliberative committee. |
| (2) | The Minister of Education and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall establish basic plans for promoting the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture (hereinafter referred to as “basic plan”) every five years, by taking into consideration the mid- and long-term policy goals and direction-setting for promotion of the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture provided for in paragraph (1), and by compiling relevant plans, policies, etc. for promotion of the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture made by relevant central administrative agencies; and shall finalize such basic plans after having them undergo deliberation by the deliberative committee. In such cases, the Minister of Education shall establish and implement basic plans for promoting the humanities; and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall establish and implement basic plans for promoting a humanistic spirit and culture in consultation with the Minister of Education. |
| (3) | The basic plans shall include the following: |
| 1. | Basic goals and direction-setting for promoting the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture; |
| 2. | Diversifying, intensifying, and converging research of the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture; and disseminating the research outcomes in society; |
| 3. | Diversifying, intensifying, and converging humanities education with other studies; |
| 4. | Supporting and popularizing activities for appreciating a humanistic spirit and culture, and creating an environment for appreciating a humanistic spirit and culture in cultural facilities, etc.; |
| 5. | Nurturing and utilizing professional manpower regarding the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture; |
| 6. | Discovering, researching, and preserving tangible and intangible assets regarding the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture; |
| 7. | Developing, supporting, and managing humanity contents, programs, etc.; |
| 8. | Exchanges and cooperation regarding the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture, both domestic and international; |
| 9. | Establishment and operation of a cooperative system among the relevant central administrative agencies, local governments, agencies and organization for promoting the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture; |
| 10. | Other matters necessary for promoting the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture. |
| (4) | The Minister of Education and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may conduct fact-finding surveys in order to set mid- and long-term policy goals and direction for promoting the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture or to establish basic plans, and matters necessary for the methods and details of fact-finding surveys shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Newly Inserted by Act No. 15957, Dec. 18, 2018> |
| Article 10 (Establishment, Implementation, etc. of Implementation Plans) |
| (1) | Heads of relevant central administrative agencies including the Minister of Education and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and heads of local governments, shall annually establish and implement implementation plans in accordance with basic plans (hereinafter referred to as “implementation plans”) after having such implementation plans undergo deliberation by the deliberative committee. |
| (2) | Heads of relevant central administrative agencies and heads of local governments shall submit performance achievements based on implementation plans of the previous year and implementation plans for the following year, to the deliberative committee. |
| (3) | Matters necessary for establishing, implementing, etc. implementation plans shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| Article 11 (Request for Submission of Resources) |
When it is necessary for formulating and implementing basic plans or implementation plans and for conducting fact-finding surveys, etc., the Minister of Education and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may request heads of relevant central administrative agencies, heads of local governments, or heads of relevant institutions or organizations to provide necessary resources or other cooperation. In such cases, persons in receipt of such request shall cooperate, except in extenuating circumstances.
<Amended by Act No. 15957, Dec. 18, 2018>
| Article 12 (Support, Etc. for Research Activities) |
| (1) | The State and local governments may provide necessary support to invigorate research activities such as diversification, intensification, convergence, etc. of research into the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture. |
| (2) | The State and local governments shall endeavor to ensure that the outcomes of research activities into the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture are actively utilized. |
| Article 13 (Conducing Humanities Education) |
The State and local governments shall endeavor to ensure that humanities education is conducted systematically and continuously in the following agencies. In such cases, professional manpower described in Article 15 shall be actively utilized. | 4. | Other agencies prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| Article 14 (Support for Activities and Creation of Environment for Appreciating Humanistic Spirit and Culture) |
| (1) | The State and local governments may provide necessary support to facilitate programs for people to appreciate a humanistic spirit and culture and voluntary participation therein. |
| (2) | The State and local governments shall endeavor to invigorate cultural facilities defined in Article 2 (1) 3 of the Culture and Arts Promotion Act, living cultural facilities defined in subparagraph 5 of Article 2 of the Local Culture Promotion Act, etc., so that they can serve as places in which to appreciate a humanistic spirit and culture. In such cases, professional manpower described in Article 15 shall be actively utilized. |
| Article 15 (Nurturing, Utilizing, etc. Professional Manpower) |
| (1) | For promoting the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture, the State and local governments shall nurture persons with knowledge and experience in the humanities as professional manpower necessary for research, education, and dissemination in society, etc. and actively utilize them. |
| (2) | The State and local governments shall prepare and implement policies necessary for the discovery, nurturing, and utilization of professional manpower described in paragraph (1); and may provide support therefor if necessary. |
| Article 16 (Disseminating the Humanities and Humanistic Spirit and Culture) |
| (1) | The State and local governments shall discover, collect, and preserve assets and resources relevant to promoting the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture, and make them readily available to the public by such methods as translation, publication, or informatization. |
| (2) | The State and local governments may provide support necessary for developing and managing contents or programs relevant to the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture. |
| Article 17 (Domestic and International Exchange and Cooperation) |
To promote the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture, the State and local governments shall facilitate and encourage cooperation among relevant domestic or overseas institutions, or cooperation with international organizations, etc., such as joint research, and academic and cultural exchanges; and may provide necessary support.
| Article 18 (Designation, etc. of Specialized Agency) |
| (1) | Where it is necessary in implementing tasks relevant to promoting the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture, the Minister of Education and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may designate a specialized agency (hereinafter referred to as “specialized agency”) following deliberation by the deliberative committee. |
| (2) | The Minister of Education and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may provide funds for operating specialized agencies. |
| (3) | The Minister of Education and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may order a specialized agency to report on its business, accounting, and assets; and may order a subordinate public official to inspect the same. |
| (4) | The Minister of Education and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall cancel designation of a specialized agency where such designation is based on falsity or other wrongful means; and may cancel designation where a specialized agency is deemed incapable of properly performing its duties. |
| (5) | Matters necessary for designating and operating a specialized agency and cancelling designation, etc. shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| Article 19 (Delegation and Entrustment of Authority) |
| (1) | Part of the authority of the Minister of Education and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism bestowed by this Act may be delegated to heads of relevant central administrative agencies or heads of local governments, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| (2) | Part of the duties of the Minister of Education and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism imposed under this Act may be entrusted to specialized agencies, or corporations or organizations established for the purpose of promoting the humanities and a humanistic spirit and culture, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
ADDENDUM
This Act shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.
ADDENDUM <Act No. 15957, Dec. 18, 2018>
This Act shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.