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ACT ON THE PROMOTION OF EDUCATION OF CRITICAL FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Act No. 13944, Feb. 3, 2016

Amended by Act No. 15963, Dec. 18, 2018

 Article 1 (Purpose)
The purpose of this Act is to prepare foundations for creative critical foreign language education by providing for the matters necessary to promote critical foreign language education, thereby providing various and specialized educational opportunities to people who wish to learn critical foreign languages and contributing to the enhancement of national competitiveness by nurturing talents with the ability to use critical foreign languages.
 Article 2 (Definitions)
The definitions of the terms used in this Act are as follows:
1. The term "critical foreign language" means a language prescribed by Presidential Decree as a language strategically required for national development;
2. The term "critical foreign language education" means education on linguistic knowledge necessary to understand and learn local cultures and regional circumstances by using a critical foreign language;
3. The term "critical foreign language expert" means a person who is proficient in a critical foreign language having expertise in, and an excellent command of, the relevant language;
4. The term "specialized educational institution for critical foreign languages" means a school designated under Article 8 (1) to train critical foreign language experts among schools stipulated in Article 2 of the Higher Education Act (hereinafter referred to as "schools");
5. The term "faculty of critical foreign languages" means school teachers defined in Article 14 (2) of the Higher Education Act in charge of teaching a critical foreign language at school.
 Article 3 (Responsibilities of the State)
(1) The State shall establish and implement various policies necessary to promote critical foreign language education.
(2) The State shall strive to provide people with sufficient educational opportunities to learn critical foreign languages.
(3) The State shall strive for systematic training of critical foreign language experts having expertise.
(4) In order to efficiently achieve the purposes of this Act, the State shall strive to build up cooperation systems with foreign governments and education-related international organizations, institutions educating and training critical foreign languages in foreign countries, and private institutions and organizations in Korea and abroad.
 Article 4 (Relationship with other Acts)
Except as otherwise provided in other Acts, matters concerning the promotion of critical foreign language education shall be governed by this Act.
 Article 5 (Master Plans to Promote critical Foreign Language Education)
(1) In order to promote critical foreign language education, the Minister of Education shall establish and implement a master plan to promote critical foreign language education every five years in consultations with the heads of related central administrative agencies.
(2) A master plan shall include the following:
1. Direction-setting for mid- and long-term policies related to the promotion of critical foreign language education and matters concerning the establishment and coordination of major policies;
2. Raising and management of financial resources to promote critical foreign language education;
3. Preparation of foundations and improvement of systems for the promotion of critical foreign language education;
4. Training of, and providing support to, critical foreign language experts;
5. Development and dissemination of materials for critical foreign language education;
6. Plans to support critical foreign language education provided by local governments and the private sector;
7. Other matters necessary to promote critical foreign language education.
(3) Other matters necessary for establishing, implementing, etc. a master plan shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
 Article 6 (Action Plan to Promote critical Foreign Language Education)
(1) Upon finalization of a master plan, the Minister of Education shall formulate and implement an action plan for critical foreign language education based thereon (hereinafter referred to as "action plan").
(2) The Minister of Education shall review and evaluate the results of implementation under an action plan every year and reflect such results in formulating the following master plan. <Newly Inserted by Act No. 15963, Dec. 18, 2018>
(3) Matters necessary for establishing, implementing, etc. an action plan shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
 Article 7 (Fact-Finding Surveys)
(1) If necessary to formulate and implement a master plan and an action plan efficiently, the Minister of Education may conduct a survey on the actual status of critical foreign language education in Korea and abroad or prepare and manage statistics thereon.
(2) Matters necessary for conducting a fact-finding survey and preparing and managing statistics under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
 Article 8 (Designation of Specialized Educational Institutions)
(1) The Minister of Education may designate schools having expertise and educational competency in critical foreign languages as specialized educational institutions for critical foreign languages (hereinafter referred to as "specialized educational institutions"), and may re-designate them or revoke their designation based on the findings of assessments conducted every three years.
(2) If a specialized educational institution falls under any of the following cases, the Minister of Education may revoke its designation: Provided, That in cases falling under subparagraph 1, he/she shall revoke the designation:
1. Where the designation is obtained by fraudulent or other unlawul means;
2. Where it ceases to meet any of the criteria for designation;
3. Where its performance is found unsatisfactory in the course of assessment of its operation.
(3) Necessary matters concerning the criteria and procedures for designation of a specialized educational institution, the procedures for revocation of designation, etc. shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
 Article 9 (Duties of Specialized Educational Institutions)
(1) A specialized educational institution shall perform the following duties in order to promote critical foreign language education:
1. Formulating and implementing an execution plan in accordance with the action plan;
2. Education to nurture experts in critical foreign languages;
3. Support for operation of curriculum for critical foreign language education;
4. Support for research and development conducted by faculty of critical foreign languages;
5. Other duties necessary to promote critical foreign language education.
(2) The State may subsidize costs incurred by specialized educational institutions in performing their duties set forth in paragraph (1), as prescribed by Presidential Decree.
 Article 10 (International Cooperation)
A specialized educational institution may perform projects concerning the exchange and training of experts in critical foreign languages, development of teaching materials related to critical foreign languages, etc. in cooperation with international organizations, overseas education and research institutions, etc.
 Article 11 (Request for Provision of Data)
In order to perform affairs related to the promotion of critical foreign language education, the Minister of Education may request the heads of related administrative agencies, education and research institutions, and organizations to provide necessary data or information. In such cases, the heads of agencies, institutions, and organization in receipt of such request shall comply therewith except in extenuating circumstances.
 Article 12 (Report to National Assembly)
The Minister of Education shall report to the National Assembly a master plan when it is formulated, and the details of implementation of an action plan every two years.
 Article 13 (Hearings)
Where the Minister of Education intends to revoke a designation under Article 8 (2), he/she shall hold a hearing.
 Article 14 (Delegation and Entrustment of Authority)
(1) The Minister of Education may partially delegate his/her authority vested under this Act to the heads of affiliated institutions, as prescribed by Presidential Decree.
(2) The Minister of Education may partially entrust his/her duties under this Act to related institutions or organizations, as prescribed by Presidential Decree.
ADDENDUM
This Act shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.
ADDENDUM <Act No. 15963, Dec. 18, 2018>
This Act shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.