The purpose of this Act is to prescribe matters necessary for the sustainable development of the polar regions and fostering of and support for systematic polar activities, thereby promoting the development of the national economy and improvement of the quality of life of citizens and contributing to the resolution of common issues of humanity in the international communities.
| Article 2 (Fundamental Concepts) |
| (1) | The polar activities shall be conducted in a comprehensive perspective so as to serve the common interests of humanity and to ensure the harmonious coexistence of ecological, cultural, and economic values. |
| (2) | The polar activities shall be conducted in a future-oriented perspective so as to be in harmony and balance with the preservation of the polar environment and in line with the sustainable development of the polar regions. |
The terms used in this Act are defined as follows:
| 1. | The term "Antarctic" means the land, ice shelves (large sheets of ice floating on the ocean that are connected to land ice; hereinafter the same shall apply), waters, and the sky in and over the region of 60 degrees south latitude; |
| 2. | The term “Arctic" means the land, ice shelves, waters, and the sky in and over the region of 66 degrees 30 minutes north latitude; |
| 3. | The term "polar regions" means both the Antarctic and the Arctic; |
| 4. | The term “polar environment” means the natural conditions (including the ecosystem and natural scenery) that include both all living creatures and non-living things surrounding them in the polar regions; |
| 5. | The term "polar resources" means resources useful to the national economy and the people's life, such as bio-resources, mineral resources, energy, tourism resources, and spatial resources in the polar regions that can be developed and utilized; |
| 6. | The term "polar activities" means the activities related to the management, preservation, development, and use of the polar environment and polar resources. |
| Article 4 (Responsibilities of the State) |
The State shall endeavor to observe the international treaties related to the polar regions it entered into with the foreign governments and international organizations, to promote the peaceful use of the polar regions and international cooperation related to the polar regions, and to resolve the common issues of humanity, such as climate change and exhaustion of resources.
| Article 5 (Relationship to Other Statutes) |
Except as otherwise provided in any other statutes, this Act shall apply to matters related to polar activities.
| Article 6 (Formulation and Implementation of Master Plans for Promotion of Polar Activities and Action Plans for Promotion of Polar Activities) |
| (1) | The Minister of Oceans and Fisheries shall formulate a master plan for promotion of polar activities (hereinafter referred to as "master plan") every five years in consultation with the heads of the relevant central administrative agencies in order to promote polar activities. In such cases, matters concerning the promotion of research activities in the Antarctic included in the master plan shall be linked to the master plan for promotion of research activities in Antarctica referred to in Article 21 of the Act on Activities in the Antarctic Area and the Protection of Antarctic Environment. |
| (2) | A master plan shall include the following matters: |
| 1. | Matters concerning basic direction-setting, implementation system, and strategies for polar activities; |
| 2. | Matters concerning the objectives of the polar research and securing finances; |
| 3. | Matters concerning the development plans for the polar science and technology; |
| 4. | Matters concerning the development of high-tech research equipment for the polar research; |
| 5. | Matters concerning the training of polar experts and support for the polar research institutes; |
| 6. | Matters concerning the sustainable development of the Arctic and promotion of economic activities in the Arctic; |
| 7. | Matters concerning the establishment and operation of the infrastructure for polar activities; |
| 8. | Matters concerning international cooperation for polar activities; |
| 9. | Matters concerning the establishment and operation of the integrated polar information system under Article 13; |
| 10. | Matters concerning the protection and safe management of the polar environment; |
| 11. | Other matters necessary for the promotion of polar activities. |
| (3) | Where the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries intends to formulate or modify the master plan, he or she shall submit it to the State Council for deliberation: Provided, That the same shall not apply where any minor matters prescribed by Presidential Decree are modified. |
| (4) | The Minister of Oceans and Fisheries shall formulate and implement an action plan for promotion of polar activities (hereinafter referred to as "action plan") every year to implement the master plan, in consultation with the heads of the relevant central administrative agencies. |
| (5) | Except as provided in paragraphs (1) through (4), matters necessary for the formulation and implementation of the master plan and action plans shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| Article 7 (Fact-Finding Survey) |
| (1) | The Minister of Oceans and Fisheries may conduct a fact-finding survey on polar activities, etc. to efficiently formulate and implement a master plan and action plans. |
| (2) | Where necessary to conduct a fact-finding survey, the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries may request the submission of materials from the heads of the relevant central administrative agencies, local governments, public institutions under the Act on the Management of Public Institutions, and other relevant institutions and organizations. |
| (3) | A person upon receipt of a request made under paragraph (2) shall comply therewith, unless there is a compelling reason not to do so. |
| (4) | The scope and methods of the fact-finding survey under paragraph (1) and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| Article 8 (Support for Research and Development) |
| (1) | The State shall formulate and implement policies necessary to promote the polar research and development. |
| (2) | The State may support projects for cooperation and joint research and development, etc. between universities, research institutes, and enterprises within the budget in order to invigorate the polar research and development. |
| Article 9 (Fostering of Expert) |
The State shall formulate and implement policies necessary for fostering polar experts.
| Article 10 (Promotion of Economic Activities in the Arctic) |
The State shall formulate and implement policies necessary for promoting economic activities in the Arctic, such as development of the Arctic route.
| Article 11 (Establishment and Operation of Infrastructure for Polar Activities) |
| (1) | The State may establish or secure and operate the following infrastructure for polar activities necessary for polar activities: |
| 1. | Science stations in the polar regions; |
| 2. | Ships such as icebreakers (referring to a ship equipped with special equipment to clear paths by pushing straight into frozen-over water or pack ice); |
| 4. | Other facilities and equipment necessary for polar activities prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| (2) | The State shall take necessary measures to help the universities, research institutes, or enterprises to fully utilize the infrastructure for polar activities established and operated pursuant to paragraph (1). |
| Article 12 (Facilitation of International Cooperation) |
In order to promote international cooperation for polar activities, the State may promote or support the activities, such as information exchange, technical cooperation, and joint survey and research on polar activities, with the foreign governments, international organizations, etc.
| Article 13 (Establishment and Operation of Integrated Polar Information System) |
| (1) | The Minister of Oceans and Fisheries may establish and operate an integrated polar information system that can systematically manage information on the polar regions and polar activities (hereinafter referred to as "integrated polar information system") to promote polar activities. |
| (2) | The Minister of Oceans and Fisheries may request the heads of the relevant central administrative agencies, local governments, public institutions under the Act on the Management of Public Institutions, and other relevant institutions and organizations to submit materials necessary for the establishment and operation of the integrated polar information system. In such cases, those who receive a request for submission of materials shall comply with such request, unless there is a compelling reason not to do so. |
| (3) | Except as provided in paragraphs (1) and (2), matters necessary for the establishment and operation of the integrated polar information system shall be prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. |
| Article 14 (Protection and Safety Management of Polar Environment) |
| (1) | A person who conducts polar activities shall endeavor not to pollute the polar environment. |
| (2) | The Minister of Oceans and Fisheries shall prepare a safety management system as prescribed by Presidential Decree to prevent accidents that may occur in polar activities conducted in the polar regions and to promptly respond to such accidents. |
| Article 15 (Education and Public Relations) |
The State may promote projects for education and public relations to inform the public of the value of the polar regions and polar activities.
| Article 16 (Delegation and Entrustment of Authority or Duties) |
| (1) | The authority of the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries under this Act may be partially delegated to the head of an agency under his or her jurisdiction, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
| (2) | The duties of the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries under this Act may be partially entrusted to the specialized institutions or organizations related to the oceans, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. |
ADDENDUM <Act No. 18055, Apr. 13, 2021>
This Act shall enter into force six months after the date of its promulgation.