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
Act No. 18764, Jan. 18, 2022
Act No. 18857, May 3, 2022
Act No. 19794, Oct. 31, 2023
CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS
The purpose of this Act is to contribute to strengthening national competitiveness, guaranteeing citizens equal opportunities to engage in reading culture 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 learning. <Amended on Oct. 31, 2023>
The terms used in this Act are defined as follows: <Amended on 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 materials expressed in written form and necessary for reading activities, such as printed matters, including books and serial publications, audio-visual materials, digital data, and special materials for the disabled; |
| 3. | The term "underprivileged reader" means a person who is excluded from reading culture or is unable to use reading materials due to physical disabilities, such as a visual disability or aging, or economic, social, geographical restrictions, etc.; |
| Article 3 (Responsibilities of the State and Local Governments) |
| (1) | The State and each local government shall establish and enforce policies necessary for the promotion of reading culture. <Amended on Dec. 20, 2016> |
| (2) | The State and local governments shall continuously devise policies to guarantee underprivileged readers opportunities to engage in reading culture activities. <Newly Inserted on Oct. 31, 2023> |
| (3) | The State and local governments shall secure financial resources necessary to establish and implement policies under paragraphs (1) and (2), and mutually cooperate. <Newly Inserted on Dec. 20, 2016; Oct. 31, 2023> |
| Article 4 (Relationships to other Statutes) |
Except as otherwise provided in other statutes, 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
| 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 the heads of the relevant central administrative agencies. <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008; Mar. 5, 2009; Oct. 31, 2023> |
| (2) | A basic plan shall include the following matters: <Amended on Dec. 20, 2016; Jan. 18, 2022; Oct. 31, 2023> |
| 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 materials; |
| 3. | Matters concerning the guarantee of opportunities to enable underprivileged readers to engage in reading culture activities and the improvement of the reading environment in 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 materials necessary for the promotion of reading culture; |
| 6. | Survey and research for the promotion of reading culture; |
| 7. | Matters concerning the safety, sanitation, and disease control with respect to infectious diseases, etc. in facilities for the promotion of reading culture, such as libraries; |
| 8. | 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 on 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 a relevant central administrative agency, the Special Metropolitan City Mayor, a Metropolitan City Mayor, a Special Self-Governing City Mayor, a Do Governor, and a Special Self-Governing Province Governor (hereafter referred to as "Mayor/Do Governor" in this Article), and a Mayor of a large city with a population of at least 500,000 persons, other than the Seoul Special Metropolitan City, a Metropolitan City, and a Special Self-Governing City under Article 198 (1) of the Local Autonomy Act (hereinafter referred to as "large city") shall each establish and implement annual implementation plans in compliance with the relevant basic plan (hereinafter referred to as "annual implementation plan"). <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008; Jan. 18, 2022; May 3, 2022> |
| (2) | A related institution or organization shall cooperate with the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the head of a relevant central administrative agency, a Mayor/Do Governor, or a Mayor of a large city upon receiving a request from any of them in relation to the establishment and implementation of an annual implementation plan, unless there is a compelling reason not to do so . <Amended on Feb. 29, 2008; May 3, 2022> |
| (3) | Matters necessary for the establishment and implementation of annual implementation plan shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended on May 3, 2022> |
| Article 7 Deleted. <Mar. 5, 2009> |
CHAPTER IV PROMOTION OF READING CULTURE
| Article 8 (Guarantee of Opportunities to Engage in Reading Culture Activities) |
The State and local governments shall endeavor to guarantee all citizens equal opportunities to engage in reading culture activities so they have easy access to reading materials.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Oct. 31, 2023]
| Article 9 (Promotion of Reading Culture in Communities) |
| (1) | The head of a 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 culture, and provide support for such efforts. <Amended on Oct. 31, 2023> |
| (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. |
[Title Amended on Oct. 31, 2023]
| Article 10 (Promotion of Reading Culture 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 on Feb. 29, 2008; 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 on Feb. 29, 2008; 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 materials 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. <Amended on Oct. 31, 2023> |
| (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. |
[Title Amended on Oct. 31, 2023]
| Article 11 (Promotion of Reading Culture in Workplace) |
| (1) | The State and a local government shall seek for measures necessary for boosting reading activities in the workplace. |
| (2) | The State and local governments shall encourage readers' groups in the workplace to be organized in order to boost workers' reading activities and may seek for measures necessary for cultivating such groups. <Amended on Oct. 31, 2023> |
[Title Amended on Oct. 31, 2023]
| Article 12 (Events in Reading Month) |
| (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 culture and persons who have shown excellent performance in reading. <Amended on Oct. 31, 2023> |
| (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. |
| Article 12-2 (Guarantee of Opportunities to Enable Underprivileged Readers to Engage in Reading Culture Activities) |
The State and a local government may take the following measures to guarantee underprivileged readers opportunities to engage in reading culture activities:
| 1. | Expansion and provision of reading materials and facilities which underprivileged readers can use without restrictions; |
| 2. | Development and distribution of reading culture programs for underprivileged readers; |
| 3. | Fact-finding surveys of reading by underprivileged readers; |
| 4. | Other measures necessary to promote reading culture among underprivileged readers. |
[This Article Newly Inserted on Oct. 31, 2023]
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.
| Article 16 (Delegation and Entrustment of Authority) |
| (1) | The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may partially delegate his or her authority bestowed under this Act to the heads of local governments, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| (2) | The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may entrust any part of the tasks under this Act to an institution, corporation or organization established for the promotion of reading culture, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
[This Article Newly Inserted on Oct. 31, 2023]
ADDENDUM <Act No. 8100, Dec. 28, 2006>
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.
ADDENDUM <Act No. 18764, Jan. 18, 2022>
This Act shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.
ADDENDUM <Act No. 18857, May 3, 2022>
This Act shall enter into force one year after the date of its promulgation.
ADDENDUM <Act No. 19794, Oct. 31, 2023>
This Act shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.