Statutes of the Republic of Korea

Article 1 (Purpose)

The purpose of this Act is to protect citizens' invaluable life and create a culture of respect for life by providing necessary matters for responsibilities and prevention policies with regard to suicide at a national level.

Article 2 (Basic Policies)

(1)

In establishing suicide prevention policies, priority shall be given to multilateral preventive measures in which all governmental organs take part and which are specific for each gender, age group, social class, and category of motives, taking into consideration specific conditions of individuals who are exposed to the risk of suicide.

(2)	In establishing suicide prevention policies, priority shall be given to the improvement of sociocultural awareness, such as the promotion of bioethics and a culture of respect for life and the development of sound mind and values.

Article 2-2 (Definitions)

The terms used in this Act are defined as follows:

1.	The term "person at suicide risk" means a person deemed exposed or likely to be exposed to the risk of suicide;

2.

The term "hazardous object used for suicide" means an object frequently used, or highly likely to be frequently used in the near future, as a means of suicide and publicly notified by the Minister of Health and Welfare following deliberation by the Suicide Prevention Policy Committee prescribed in Article 10-2;

3.	The term "suicide-inducing information" means the following information used to actively encourage suicide or to assist suicide:

(a)	Information on seeking suicide partners;

(b)	Information suggesting specific methods concerning suicide;

(c)	Documents, pictures, videos, etc. containing content on practicing or inducing suicide;

(d)	Information on the sale or utilization of hazardous objects used for suicide;

(e)	Other information equivalent to those referred to in the above items, which obviously aims at inducing suicide;

4.	The term "gatekeeper" means a person who discovers persons highly likely to commit suicide and entrusts or connects such persons to specialized institutions, such as a suicide prevention center, and has completed the education the Minister of Health and Welfare recognizes;

5.	The term "suicide prevention program" means the following programs:

(a)	Creation of a culture of respect for life;

(b)	Counselling, education, and public relations on suicide prevention;

(c)	Training of experts in suicide prevention;

(d)	Establishment of a suicide prevention system;

(e)	Discovery and follow-up management of persons at suicide risk;

(f)	Investigations into the actual state of suicide and psychological autopsies;

(g)	Support for and follow-up management of persons who attempted suicide and their family members and the bereaved family members of persons who committed suicide;

(h)	Other programs the Minister of Health and Welfare deems necessary for suicide prevention.

[This Article Newly Inserted on Jan. 15, 2019]

Article 3 (Citizens' Rights and Duties)

(1)	Where a citizen is, or finds himself or herself, at the risk of suicide, he or she has a right to request help from the State or a local government.

(2)	Citizens shall fully cooperate with the State or a local government in establishing and implementing suicide prevention policies, and shall take measures to rescue a person who is found highly likely to commit suicide.

Article 4 (Responsibilities of the State and Local Governments)

(1)	The State and each local government shall formulate policies necessary to actively rescue persons at suicide risk from the risk of committing suicide. <Amended on Jan. 15, 2019>

(2)

The State and each local government shall formulate and implement policies on each stage of measures for suicide prevention, countermeasures against probable occurrences of suicide, and measures taken after a suicide or an attempted suicide. In such cases, measures to protect persons who attempted suicide and their family members or the bereaved family members of persons who committed suicide shall be included in such policies. <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017; Jan. 15, 2019>

Article 5 (Business Owners' Responsibilities)

(1)	Each business owner shall fully cooperate in suicide prevention policies implemented by the State and local governments.

(2)	Each business owner shall endeavor to take measures necessary to maintain the mental health of his or her employees.

Article 6 (Relationship to Other Statutes)

Except as otherwise provided in other statutes, suicide prevention, the establishment and enforcement of policies thereon, and other matters shall be governed by this Act.

Article 7 (Formulation of Master Plan for Suicide Prevention)

(1)	The State shall formulate a master plan for suicide prevention (hereinafter referred to as "master plan") every five years to effectively promote suicide prevention policies. <Amended on Dec. 11, 2018>

(2)	A master plan shall include the following matters: <Amended on Dec. 11, 2018; Jan. 15, 2019>

1.	Creation of a culture of respect for life;

2.	Development and distribution of a manual for counseling on suicide;

3.	Suicide prevention measures for each life-cycle stage, such as children, youth, middle-aged persons, and senior citizens;

4.	Promotion of mental health through management of depression and drug addiction, etc.;

5.	Establishment of a suicide prevention system using information and communications and other various media;

6.	Discovery, treatment, and follow-up management of persons at suicide risk and persons who attempted suicide;

7.	Support for and follow-up management of the bereaved family members of persons who committed suicide;

8.	Establishment of a suicide monitoring system;

9.	Control on suicide means;

10.	Education and training on suicide prevention;

11.	Assistance in research on suicide prevention;

12.	A scheme for the designation and operation of central and local collaborative institutions;

13.	Formulation of guidelines for news reports on suicide by the press and measures to ensure that such guidelines are implemented;

14.	Other necessary matters related to suicide prevention measures.

(3)

The Minister of Health and Welfare shall prepare a master plan in consultation with the heads of related central administrative agencies and shall finalize such master plan after deliberation by the Suicide Prevention Policy Committee established under Article 10-2. <Newly Inserted on Dec. 11, 2018>

(4)

The Minister of Health and Welfare shall notify without delay the finalized master plan to the heads of related central administrative agencies and the Special Metropolitan City Mayor, a Metropolitan City Mayor, a Do Governor, and a Special Self-Governing Province Governor (hereinafter referred to as "Mayor/Do Governor"). <Amended on Dec. 11, 2018>

Article 8 (Formulation and Execution of Annual Implementation Plans)

(1)

The Minister of Health and Welfare, the head of each related central administrative agency, and each Mayor/Do Governor shall formulate and execute an implementation plan each year for suicide prevention (hereinafter referred to as "implementation plan") respectively in accordance with the master plan.

(2)

The head of each related central administrative agency and each Mayor/Do Governor shall annually submit an implementation plan for the following year and a report on the results of the execution of the implementation plan for the previous year to the Minister of Health and Welfare, as prescribed by Presidential Decree, and the Minister of Health and Welfare shall assess the results of the execution of implementation plans each year and finalize the results thereof after deliberation by the Suicide Prevention Policy Committee established under Article 10-2. <Amended on Dec. 11, 2018>

(3)	Necessary matters regarding the formulation and execution of implementation plans and the assessment of the results of the execution of such plans shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 9 (Adjustment of City/Do Implementation Plans)

(1)

The Minister of Health and Welfare shall make adjustments to an implementation plan of the Special Metropolitan City, a Metropolitan City, a Do, or a Special Self-Governing Province (hereinafter referred to as "City/Do") in accordance with the master plan, and shall check the current status of performance of the plan.

(2)	Where a City/Do implementation plan contravenes the master plan or an implementation plan of a central administrative agency, the Minister of Health and Welfare may request the competent Mayor/Do Governor to revise it.

Article 10 (Cooperation in Formulation of Plans)

(1)

Where necessary to formulate, execute, and assess a master plan or an implementation plan, the Minister of Health and Welfare, the head of a related central administrative agency, or a Mayor/Do Governor may request the head of a related central administrative agency, a local government, a related public institution, or any other organization involved in suicide prevention activities to submit relevant data and provide other necessary cooperation.

(2)	A person requested to cooperate under paragraph (1) shall comply with the request, unless there is good cause.

Article 10-2 (Suicide Prevention Policy Committee)

(1)	A Suicide Prevention Policy Committee (hereafter in this Article referred to as the "Committee") shall be established under the Prime Minister to deliberate on important matters regarding suicide prevention policies.

(2)	The Committee shall deliberate on the following:

1.	Matters regarding mid- and long-term objectives of suicide prevention policies and directions of pursuing such policies;

2.	Matters regarding the formulation of a master plan;

3.	Matters regarding the assessment of the results of the execution of implementation plans;

4.	Matters regarding cooperation and coordination between related Ministries on suicide prevention policies;

5.	Matters regarding public-private partnerships related to suicide prevention policies;

6.	Other matters regarding suicide prevention policies, which are referred by the chairperson to the meeting of the Committee.

(3)	The Committee shall be comprised of not more than 25 members, including one chairperson.

(4)	The Prime Minister shall serve as the chairperson of the Committee, and the following persons shall be the members thereof:

1.	The heads of related central administrative agencies prescribed by Presidential Decree;

2.	Persons commissioned by the Prime Minister from among those with abundant knowledge and experience in suicide prevention.

(5)	Where necessary to deliberate on suicide prevention policies, the Committee may request related administrative agencies to provide materials. In such cases, the heads of the related administrative agencies so requested shall comply therewith unless there is a compelling reason not to do so.

(6)	A working committee shall be established under the Committee to efficiently perform the affairs thereof.

(7)	Matters necessary for the composition, operation, etc. of the Committee and working committee shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

[This Article Newly Inserted on Dec. 11, 2018]

Article 11 (Fact-Finding Surveys on Suicide)

(1)	In order to grasp the actual situation of suicide and needs and demands for services for suicide prevention, the State and each local government shall conduct a fact-finding survey on suicide every five years, and shall announce the results thereof.

(2)	A fact-finding survey on suicide under paragraph (1) shall include the following: <Newly Inserted on Dec. 11, 2018>

1.	Matters regarding general information on persons to be surveyed, such as gender, age, educational background, marital status, and the state of employment;

2.	Matters regarding risk factors of suicide of persons to be surveyed, such as thoughts about suicide and the number of attempts to commit suicide;

3.	Matters regarding the impacts on suicide of news reports on suicide by the press, such as newspapers, broadcasting, and the Internet;

4.	Other matters necessary to grasp the actual situation of suicide and needs and demands for services for suicide prevention.

(3)

The State and each local government may request the heads of related agencies, corporations, and organizations to submit necessary materials or state their opinions to conduct a fact-finding survey on suicide under paragraph (1). In such cases, a person who receives such request shall cooperate therein unless there is good cause. <Newly Inserted on Dec. 3, 2019>

(4)	Matters necessary for conducting a fact-finding survey on suicide, announcement of the results thereof, the details of such survey, etc. under paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended on Dec. 11, 2018; Dec. 3, 2019>

Article 11-2 (Psychological Autopsy)

The State and each local government may conduct a psychological autopsy for analyzing the causes of suicide based on psychological and behavioral changes, etc. before and after suicide to formulate effective suicide prevention policies and to provide psychological support to persons who attempted suicide and their family members or the bereaved family members of a person who committed suicide (hereafter in this Chapter referred to as "persons who attempted suicide, etc."). In such cases, the consent of persons who attempted suicide, etc. to the psychological autopsy shall be obtained in advance. <Amended on Jan. 15, 2019>

[This Article Newly Inserted on Feb. 8, 2017]

Article 12 (Establishment of System for Analysis of Statistics and Management of Information of Suicide)

(1)	The State and each local government may designate and operate institutions specializing in survey and research in order to collect, analyze, and manage suicide statistics.

(2)	Matters necessary for the designation of institutions specializing in survey and research under paragraph (1) and other matters shall be prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Article 12-2 (Follow-Up Management of Persons Who Attempted Suicide)

(1)

Where any of the following persons comes to know a person who attempted suicide, etc. in the course of performing his or her duties, he or she shall provide such person who attempted suicide, etc. with information on related supporting institutions in the competent jurisdiction: <Amended on Jan. 15, 2019>

1.	A police official under Article 2 (2) 2 of the State Public Officials Act;

2.	An autonomous police official under Article 2 (2) 2 of the Local Public Officials Act;

3.	A member of a 119 emergency medical services team under Article 10 of the Act on 119 Rescue and Emergency Medical Services.

(2)	Where there is a person who attempted suicide or a person who committed suicide, the head of a police agency and the head of a fire service agency may provide information on persons who attempted suicide, etc. to the following institutions in the competent jurisdiction: <Amended on Jan. 15, 2019>

1.	A suicide prevention center under Article 13;

2.	A mental health welfare center under subparagraph 3 of Article 3 of the Act on the Improvement of Mental Health and the Support for Welfare Services for Mental Patients;

3.	Other institutions prescribed by Presidential Decree, which perform suicide prevention affairs.

(3)

The heads of the institutions referred to in the subparagraphs of paragraph (2) may request the head of a police agency, the head of a fire service agency, the head of a local government, the head of a medical institution, or the head of any other related institution to provide information on persons who attempted, etc. to smoothly perform suicide prevention affairs such as follow-up management of persons who attempted suicide. In such cases, the head of the institution so requested shall comply therewith unless there is good cause. <Amended on Jan. 15, 2019>

(4)	Where information on persons who attempted suicide, etc. is provided under paragraphs (2) and (3), the consent thereto of such persons, etc. shall be obtained. <Amended on Jan. 15, 2019>

(5)

The heads of the institutions referred to in the subparagraphs of paragraph (2) shall provide support, such as counseling, to persons who attempted suicide, etc. whose information is provided, and shall report the details of support to the Minister of Health and Welfare every year. <Amended on Jan. 15, 2019>

(6)

The heads of the institutions referred to in the subparagraphs of paragraph (2) shall designate persons in charge of providing necessary support to persons who attempted suicide, etc. from among their employees: Provided, That where at least two institutions are provided with information on the same person who attempted suicide, etc., the heads of such institutions may designate the person in charge in consultation with each other. <Amended on Jan. 15, 2019>

(7)	Matters necessary for the scope, procedures, and method of providing information under paragraphs (1) through (3), consent under paragraph (4), reporting under paragraph (5), the designation of a person in charge under paragraph (6) and other matters shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

[This Article Newly Inserted on Dec. 11, 2018]

Article 13 (Establishment of Suicide Prevention Centers)

(1)

The Minister of Health and Welfare may establish and operate a Korea Suicide Prevention Center, and each Mayor/Do Governor and the head of each Si/Gun/Gu (Gu means an autonomous Gu) may establish and operate a local suicide prevention center (hereinafter referred to as "suicide prevention center") to perform the following affairs: <Amended on Jan. 15, 2019>

1.	Counseling on suicide;

2.	Mobilization and response to the scene of an anticipated suicide at any time;

3.	Follow-up management of persons who attempted suicide;

4.	Supporting and managing the bereaved family members of persons who committed suicide;

5.	Publicity and education on suicide prevention;

6.	Training of experts in suicide prevention;

7.	Other affairs deemed necessary by the Minister of Health and Welfare to prevent suicide and support the bereaved family members of persons who committed suicide.

(2)	The State or each local government may establish a suicide prevention center under paragraph (1) in a mental health welfare center under subparagraph 3 of Article 3 of the Act on the Improvement of Mental Health and the Support for Welfare Services for Mental Patients. <Amended on May 29, 2016>

(3)	The State or each local government may entrust the operation of a suicide prevention center under paragraph (1) to a private entity, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. In such cases, the State or each local government may assist with the expenses incurred in performing the entrusted affairs.

(4)	The State and each local government shall install and operate emergency telephone lines for receiving ongoing reports in order to prevent suicide.

(5)	Matters necessary for the installation and operation of suicide prevention centers under paragraph (1) and emergency telephone lines under paragraph (4) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 14 (Measures for Assistance to Persons at Suicide Risk and Promotion of Mental Health)

(1)	The State and each local government shall create an environment in which necessary medical services can be appropriately provided to persons exposed to the risk of suicide due to a problem with mental health.

(2)	The State and each local government shall develop and distribute tools for screening tests of mental health of persons at suicide risk.

(3)	The State and each local government shall endeavor to take measures necessary for early discovery of, counseling for, and treatment of persons at suicide risk.

(4)	Matters necessary for screening tests under paragraph (2) and counseling and treatment under paragraph (3) shall be prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Article 15 (Creation of Culture of Respect for Life)

In order to create a sociocultural environment where life is respected, the State and each local government may implement nationwide programs for a culture of respect for life in cooperation with non-governmental organizations, etc. engaged in activities for suicide prevention.

Article 16 (Suicide Prevention Day)

(1)	The 10th day of September each year shall be designated as Suicide Prevention Day, and one week beginning on Suicide Prevention Day as Suicide Prevention Week in order to promote awareness of the risk of suicide and to create a positive social atmosphere for suicide prevention.

(2)	The State and each local government shall endeavor to hold events and conduct educational and promotional programs appropriate for the objectives of Suicide Prevention Day.

Article 17 (Counseling and Education on Suicide Prevention)

(1)	The heads of the following institutions, organizations, and facilities shall endeavor to conduct counseling and education on suicide prevention in order to prevent suicide and to create a culture of respect for life:

1.	State organs, local governments, and public institutions prescribed by Presidential Decree;

2.	Welfare facilities for senior citizens under the Welfare of Senior Citizens Act;

3.	Social welfare facilities under the Social Welfare Services Act;

4.	Other institutions or organizations prescribed by Presidential Decree, which are deemed those needing counseling and education on suicide prevention.

(2)

The Minister of Health and Welfare may request the head of a related central administrative agency and the head of a local government to provide counseling and education on suicide prevention under paragraph (1) to any of the following persons who performs affairs related to persons at suicide risk, etc.: <Newly Inserted on Dec. 11, 2018>

1.	Members of 119 rescue squads under Article 8 of the Act on 119 Rescue and Emergency Medical Services and members of 119 emergency medical services teams under Article 10 of that Act;

2.	Police officials under Article 2 (2) 2 of the State Public Officials Act;

3.	Autonomous police officials under Article 2 (2) 2 of the Local Public Officials Act;

4.	Public officials exclusively in charge of social welfare under Article 43 of the Act on the Use and Provision of Social Security Benefits and Search for Eligible Beneficiaries;

5.	Other persons prescribed by Presidential Decree, who are deemed those needing counseling and education on suicide prevention.

(3)

The State and each local government may develop and distribute programs necessary for counseling and education on suicide prevention under paragraphs (1) and (2) after reflecting the opinions of persons who attempted suicide or the bereaved family members of persons who committed suicide and may grant relevant institutions, organizations, and facilities subsidies to cover all or part of the expenses incurred in counseling and education on suicide prevention within budgetary limits. <Amended on Dec. 11, 2018; Jan. 15, 2019>

(4)

Matters necessary for counseling and education on suicide prevention and the methods and contents of such counseling and education under paragraphs (1) and (2), developing and distributing programs and granting subsidies under paragraph (3) and other matters shall be prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. <Amended on Dec. 11, 2018>

Article 18 (Publicity for Suicide Prevention)

(1)	The State and each local government shall take measures necessary for helping citizens understand suicide prevention through education and publicity-related activities. <Amended on Jan. 15, 2019>

(2)

The Minister of Health and Welfare shall produce promotional videos regarding suicide prevention and distribute such videos to persons in charge of broadcast programming defined in subparagraph 23 of Article 2 of the Broadcasting Act to prevent suicide and encourage the participation of citizens in suicide prevention activities. <Newly Inserted on Jan. 15, 2019>

(3)

The Minister of Health and Welfare may request broadcasting business entities defined in subparagraph 3 of Article 2 of the Broadcasting Act to broadcast promotional videos prescribed in paragraph (2) for each channel within the ratio of programming non-commercial and public interest advertisements as prescribed by Presidential Decree pursuant to Article 73 (4) of that Act. <Newly Inserted on Jan. 15, 2019; Apr. 7, 2020>

(4)

A broadcasting business entity prescribed in paragraph (3) may produce and broadcast its own promotional videos besides the promotional videos prescribed in paragraph (2). In such cases, it may request the Minister of Health and Welfare to render necessary cooperation and assistance. <Newly Inserted on Jan. 15, 2019; Apr. 7, 2020>

(5)

A broadcasting business entity prescribed in paragraph (3) shall endeavor to broadcast promotional videos prescribed in paragraph (2) or information on the suicide prevention counseling telephone number the Minister of Health and Welfare determines, following news reports or broadcasting programs concerning suicide. <Newly Inserted on Jan. 15, 2019; Apr. 7, 2020>

Article 19 (Establishment of Suicide-Inducing Information Prevention System)

(1)	No person shall distribute suicide-inducing information through the information and communications networks defined in subparagraph 1 of Article 2 of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, Etc.

(2)

The Minister of Health and Welfare shall organize a suicide-inducing information prevention council in association with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Korea Communications Commission, the Korean National Police Agency, and other related agencies for cooperation to block suicide-inducing information.

(3)	Matters necessary for the organization, functions, operation, etc. of the suicide-inducing information prevention council prescribed in paragraph (2) shall be prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 15, 2019]

Article 19-2 (Request for Cooperation in Complying with Guidelines for News Reports on Suicide)

(1)

The Minister of Health and Welfare may request the press, such as broadcasting, newspapers, magazines, or the Internet newspapers, to cooperate in complying with the guidelines for news reports on suicide under Article 7 (2) 13 in order to prevent the spread of suicide resulting from news reports on suicide. <Amended on Jan. 15, 2019>

(2)	The press shall actively endeavor to fulfill a request for cooperation under paragraph (1).

[This Article Newly Inserted on Dec. 11, 2018]

Article 19-3 (Requests for Provision of Information to Rescue People in Need of Emergency Rescue)

(1)

In case of an emergency where the life and body of a person at suicide risk who falls under any of the following (hereafter in this Article referred to as "person in need of emergency rescue") needs to be protected and it is impossible to identify the location, etc. of and rescue the person in need of emergency rescue by other means, the head of a police agency, coast guard agency, or fire service agency (hereafter in this Article referred to as "emergency rescue agency") may request the providers of information and communications services defined in Article 2 (1) 3 of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, Etc. to allow the perusal or submission of materials (hereinafter referred to as "request for the provision of materials"):

1.	A person who expresses his or her intention or plan to commit suicide;

2.	A person who seeks suicide partners;

3.	A person deemed highly likely to commit suicide in light of purchasing, or expressing the intention to purchase, hazardous objects used for suicide, or any other behavior.

(2)

Materials subject to requests for the provision of materials mean the names, resident registration numbers (where resident registration numbers do not exist, referring to birth dates), addresses, telephone numbers, IDs (referring to user identification codes to identify justifiable users of computer systems or communication networks), and e-mail addresses of persons in need of emergency rescue, as well as their personal location information defined in subparagraph 2 of Article 2 of the Act on the Protection, Use, etc. of Location Information.

(3)

A request for the provision of materials shall be made in writing, specifying the cause of such request, relevance to persons in need of emergency rescue, and the scope of necessary materials (hereinafter referred to as "written request for the provision of materials"): Provided, That there is any urgent cause making it impossible to file a written request, such request may be filed by other means than filing a written request, but when such cause ceases to exist, a written request for the provision of materials shall be submitted to providers of information and communications services without delay.

(4)	Upon receipt of a request for the provision of materials under paragraph (1), a provider of information and communications services shall render cooperation therein without delay.

(5)

Where an emergency rescue agency or a provider of information and communications services requests or provides the information that specifies personal information or locations pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2), such emergency rescue agency or provider of information and communications services shall notify the relevant personal information subject (referring to the person identified by the information prescribed in paragraph (2)) of such fact immediately: Provided, That where making an immediate notice is likely to cause an obvious danger to the life and body of the personal information subject, such fact shall be notified without delay after the cause of such danger ceases to exist.

(6)	No person who works or has worked for an emergency rescue agency or engages or has engaged in emergency rescue affairs shall use the personal information provided for the purpose of emergency rescue for other purposes.

(7)

Where an emergency rescue agency requests the provision of personal information pursuant to paragraph (1), it shall keep the following matters as prescribed by Presidential Decree, and where the relevant personal information subject requests the verification, perusal, reproduction, etc. of the personal information collected, it shall comply with the request without delay:

1.	The requesting person;

2.	The date and purpose of the request;

3.	Details provided by providers of information and communications services.

(8)	No emergency rescue agency shall inform a third party of the information that specifies personal information and locations provided to it pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2): Provided, That the same shall not apply to the following cases:

1.	Where the consent of a personal information subject is obtained;

2.	Where such information is provided to another emergency rescue agency in an inevitable circumstance for emergency rescue activities.

(9)

The Minister of Health and Welfare may request emergency rescue agencies to provide statistical data on the current status, such as the number of times of being provided with materials pursuant to paragraph (1) and types of such materials, within the scope necessary to collect, analyze, and manage suicide statistics under Article 12 by the methods prescribed by Presidential Decree, and the emergency rescue agencies shall comply with such request unless there is a compelling reason not to do so.

[This Article Newly Inserted on Jan. 15, 2019]

Article 19-4 (Duties of Providers of Information and Communications Services)

(1)

A provider of information and communications services who meets the standards prescribed by Presidential Decree, such as the average number of daily users and sales, shall designate a person in charge of the provision of materials prescribed in Article 19-3 (1) and report such designation to the Minister of Health and Welfare.

(2)	The details, methods, procedures, etc. of reporting under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

[This Article Newly Inserted on Jan. 15, 2019]

Article 20 (Support for Persons who Attempted Suicide)

(1)

The State and each local government may provide psychological counseling, counseling treatment, legal aids, living costs, etc. to persons who attempted suicide, etc., in order to help alleviate the severe psychological impact on persons who attempted suicide and their family members, the bereaved family members of persons who committed suicide, etc. and to stabilize their living. <Amended on Feb. 8, 2017; Dec. 11, 2018; Jan. 15, 2019>

(2)	The State and each local government may grant subsidies for human resources and expenses necessary to operate a self-help group in which the bereaved family members, etc. of persons who committed suicide participate. <Newly Inserted on Dec. 11, 2018; Jan. 15, 2019>

(3)	The State and each local government shall provide information on measures for supporting the bereaved family members of persons who committed suicide and procedures for using such measures to help them actively use the measures. <Newly Inserted on Jan. 15, 2019>

(4)

Where the bereaved family members of persons who committed suicide do not directly file an application for supporting measures, the State and each local government shall file an application for such measures ex officio as prescribed by Presidential Decree to immediately provide support to such bereaved family members. In such cases, the consent of persons eligible to receive support shall be obtained, and where such consent is obtained, the persons eligible to receive support shall be deemed to have filed an application for the measures. <Newly Inserted on Jan. 15, 2019>

Article 21 (Consideration for Honor and Peace in Life)

In taking suicide prevention measures, the State and each local government shall ensure that the honor and peace in the life of persons who committed suicide, persons who attempted suicide, their family members, etc. are not unduly undermined.

Article 22 (Training of Experts)

The State and each local government shall endeavor to take measures necessary to train and secure experts in suicide prevention, etc. and improve their qualities.

Article 23 (Assistance to Non-Governmental Organizations)

(1)	The State and each local government may provide necessary assistance to organizations that implement suicide prevention programs in performing relevant affairs. <Amended on Jan. 15, 2019>

(2)	The State and each local government may assist with the costs necessary for the activities of gatekeepers. <Newly Inserted on Jan. 15, 2019>

Article 24 (Prohibition on Divulgence of Confidential Information)

A person who performed or performs duties regarding suicide prevention under this Act shall not divulge or publish others' confidential information known to him or her in the course of performance of his or her duties.

Article 24-2 (Cooperation from Related Agencies)

(1)

Where necessary to implement a policy for suicide prevention and the creation of a culture of respect for life, the Minister of Health and Welfare, the head of a related central administrative agency, or a Mayor/Do Governor may request the head of a related central administrative agency, a local government, a related public institution, or any other related institution or organization to provide cooperation.

(2)	A person requested to provide cooperation under paragraph (1) shall comply therewith unless there is a compelling reason not to do so.

[This Article Newly Inserted on Dec. 11, 2018]

Article 25 (Penalty Provisions)

(1)	Any of the following persons shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not more than five years or by a fine not exceeding 50 million won:

1.	A person who uses the information he or she receives pursuant to Article 19-3 (1) for purposes other than emergency rescue, in violation of Article 19-3 (6);

2.	A person who provides the information he or she receives pursuant to Article 19-3 (1) without obtaining the consent of the personal information subject or for purposes other than emergency rescue in violation of Article 19-3 (8) or a person who is provided with such information.

(2)	A person who violates Article 24 shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not more than three years or by a fine not exceeding 30 million won.

(3)	A person who distributes suicide-inducing information through the information and communications network in violation of Article 19 (1) shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not more than two years or by a fine not exceeding 20 million won.

(4)	A person who refuses a request for the provision of materials in violation of Article 19-3 (4) shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not more than one year or by a fine not exceeding 20 million won.

[This Article Wholly Amended on Jan. 15, 2019]

Article 26 (Administrative Fines)

A person who fails to notify the provision of information in violation of Article 19-3 (5) shall be subject to an administrative fine not exceeding 10 million won.

[This Article Newly Inserted on Jan. 15, 2019]

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ACT ON THE PREVENTION OF SUICIDE AND THE CREATION OF CULTURE OF RESPECT FOR LIFE