Article 1(Purpose) #
The purpose of this Act is to prescribe matters necessary for promoting and supporting education on the unification of South and North Korea.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Dec. 31, 2008]
Article 2(Definitions) #
The terms used in this Act are defined as follows: <Amended on Mar. 13, 2018>
1. The term "unification education" means education which helps the people foster the sense of values and attitudes, required to achieve the unification of South and North Korea, based on the belief in free democracy, consciousness of the national community, and sound awareness of national security;
2. The term "regional unification education center" means an institution, organization or establishment designated by the Minister of Unification pursuant to Article 6-3 to educate regional residents about unification as well as to collect and furnish information pertaining to unification education;
3. The term "unification hall" means an establishment designated or established by the Minister of Unification pursuant to Article 6-4 to expand the understanding of North Korea through the exhibition, experience, etc. of materials concerning North Korea and unification and to foster public awareness of unification.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Dec. 31, 2008]
Article 3(Basic principles for unification education ) #
(1) Unification education shall protect the basic order of free democracy and pursue peaceful unification.
(2) Unification education shall not be used for private or political purposes.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Dec. 31, 2008]
Article 3-2(Fundamental matters concerning unification education) #
(1) The Minister of Unification shall determine fundamental matters concerning unification education in order to provide unification education according to the basic principles provided for in Article 3.
(2) In determining the fundamental matters concerning unification education, the Minister of Unification shall consult with the head of a relevant central administrative agency.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Dec. 31, 2008]
Article 3-3(Unification Education Week) #
The fourth week of May of each year shall be designated as "Unification Education Week" to strengthen the public's aspiration to unification.
[This Article Added on Mar. 13, 2018]
Article 4(Responsibilities of the State and local governments ) #
(1) The State shall encourage unification education by providing unification education, promoting research on unification issues, providing training and support to specialists in unification education, or developing and distributing teaching materials concerning unification education, or by implementing other methods, as provided for in this Act. <Amended on Oct. 19, 2009>
(2) The State may assist any person providing unification education (including a corporation or organization; hereinafter the same shall apply) in providing all or some expenses involved within budgetary limits, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended on Oct. 19, 2009>
(3) Local governments shall formulate and implement regional policies in consideration of national policies and regional characteristics. In such cases, matters necessary for formulating and implementing such policies may be prescribed by municipal ordinances. <Amended on Mar. 13, 2018>
(4) Local governments may provide any person providing unification education for regional residents, with necessary financial and administrative support within budgetary limits. <Added on Mar. 13, 2018>
(5) The State and local governments shall build a mutual cooperation system to facilitate policies under this Act. <Added on Mar. 13, 2018>
(6) The State and local governments shall encourage education on unification under this Act in Korea and abroad, and inside and outside schools. <Added on Jan. 5, 2021>
[This Article Wholly Amended on Dec. 31, 2008]
[This Article Added on Oct. 19, 2009]
[Moved from Article 6; Previous Article 4 moved to Article 6 <Mar. 13, 2018>]
Article 5 #
Deleted. <Dec. 31, 2008>
Article 6(Formulation of master plan for unification education ) #
(1) The Minister of Unification shall establish a master plan for unification education (hereinafter referred to as "master plan") to facilitate unification education.
(2) The master plan shall include the following: <Amended on Mar. 13, 2018>
1. Basic principles, goals, and directions for unification education;
2. Matters concerning mutual cooperation among ministries, agencies, institutions, and organizations in providing unification education;
3. Raising public awareness of unification education;
4. Matters concerning investigating, evaluating, and correcting the actual state of unification education;
5. Matters concerning providing training and support for specialists in unification education;
6. Matters concerning enhancing expertise in unification education held by teachers referred to in each subparagraph of Article 19( 1 ) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act;
7. Matters concerning developing and distributing teaching materials related to unification education;
8. Matters concerning fostering and supporting domestic and overseas unification education institutions and organizations;
9. Matters concerning expanding and managing facilities and equipment necessary for unification education;
10. Matters concerning promoting research on unification issues and unification education;
11. Matters concerning establishing and operating a cooperative system for unification education;
12. Other matters necessary for promoting unification education.
(3) In formulating the master plan, the Minister of Unification shall pre-consult with the head of a relevant central administrative agency.
(4) In formulating the master plan, the Minister of Unification may hear the opinions of experts with extensive knowledge of and experience in unification education.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Dec. 31, 2008]
[Moved from Article 4; Previous Article 6 moved to Article 4 <Mar. 13, 2018>]
Article 6-2(Use of public facilities) #
Anyone who is in charge of unification education may, if it is deemed necessary for unification education, use public facilities to the extent that does not hinder the original purposes of use thereof, as prescribed by Presidential Decree.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Dec. 31, 2008]
Article 6-3(Designation and operation of regional unification education centers) #
(1) The Minister of Unification may designate an institution, organization or establishment which primarily aims for unification education or is deemed capable of providing unification education (hereinafter referred to as "institution, etc.") as a regional unification education center.
(2) The head of the institution, etc. designated as a regional unification education center shall, when important matters prescribed by Presidential Decree among the details of the designation are changed, report the fact to the Minister of Unification.
(3) When any institution, etc. designated as a regional unification education center falls under any of the following cases, the Minister of Unification may revoke the designation thereof; provided, when the institution, etc. falls under subparagraph 1, the designation thereof shall be revoked:
1. Where it has obtained the designation by fraud or other improper means;
2. Where it is deemed seriously incapable of providing unification education.
(4) When any institution, etc. designated as a regional unification education center falls under any of the following cases, the Minister of Unification may order the institution, etc. to suspend its work for a fixed period of not more than six months:
1. Where it provides unification education, in violation of the basic principles of unification education provided for in Article 3;
2. Where it obtains subsidy by fraud or other improper means or spends such subsidy for other purposes;
3. Where it fails to report the changed matters referred to in paragraph (2).
(5) When the Minister of Unification intends to revoke the designation of any regional unification education center pursuant to paragraph (3), he or she shall hold a hearing with regard thereto.
(6) Other necessary matters for the designation and operation of regional unification education centers, etc. shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Dec. 31, 2008]
Article 6-4(Designation of unification halls) #
(1) The Minister of Unification may establish and operate a unification hall or designate an establishment providing educational and experiential activities concerning North Korea and unification as a unification hall in order to provide the public with information on North Korea and unification and to utilize the unification hall as a place for unification education.
(2) The head of an establishment who intends it to be designated as a unification hall pursuant to paragraph (1) shall file an application for designation with the Minister of Unification after meeting the designation requirements prescribed by Presidential Decree, such as facilities, budget, human resources, education operation plan, etc.
(3) Where important matters prescribed by Presidential Decree among the designation requirements falling under paragraph (2) are changed, the head of an establishment designated as a unification hall pursuant to paragraph (1) (hereinafter referred to as "head of a unification hall") shall notify the Minister of Unification of such fact.
(4) Except as otherwise provided for in paragraphs (1) through (3), the procedures, methods, etc. for applying for designation of a unification hall and notifying changed matters shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
[This Article Added on Mar. 13, 2018]
Article 6-5(Corrective order concerning unification halls) #
Where a unification hall falls under any of the following, the Minister of Unification may order the head of the unification hall to take corrective action within a specified period:
1. Where it has provided unification education in violation of the basic principles for unification education provided for in Article 3;
2. Where it fails to meet the designation requirements referred to in Article 6-4(2) or is deemed explicitly lost its operational determination;
3. Where it fails to notify changed matters referred to in Article 6-4(3).
[This Article Added on Mar. 13, 2018]
Article 6-6(Revocation of designation of unification halls) #
(1) The Minister of Unification may revoke the designation of a unification hall in any of the following cases; provided, he or she shall revoke such designation in cases falling under subparagraph 1:
1. Where an establishment has obtained the designation of a unification hall by fraud or other improper means;
2. Where an establishment has received a corrective order under Article 6-5 but fails to comply with such order within a specified period without good cause.
(2) The Minister of Unification shall hold a hearing if he or she intends to revoke the designation of a unification hall pursuant to paragraph (1).
[This Article Added on Mar. 13, 2018]
Article 6-7(Provision of unification education to public officials) #
(1) The heads of central administrative agencies, the heads of local governments, and the heads of public institutions referred to in Article 4 of the Act on the Management of Public Institutions shall provide unification education under subparagraph 1 of Article 2 to public officials, employees, etc. in their jurisdictions and shall submit the results of such education to the Minister of Unification.
(2) The Minister of Unification may develop and distribute necessary teaching materials to effectively provide unification education under paragraph (1).
(3) Except as provided in paragraphs (1) and (2), matters necessary for providing unification education, such as the method and time to provide unification education shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
[This Article Added on Mar. 13, 2018]
Article 7(Inclusion of unification education ) #
An education and training institution established by the State or a local government, or any person who establishes and operates a social education institution prescribed by Presidential Decree shall endeavor to include unification education (including the fundamental matters concerning unification education provided for in Article 3-2(1)) in the education and training curriculum, as prescribed by Presidential Decree.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Dec. 31, 2008]
Article 8(Promotion of unification education at schools ) #
(1) The Government shall endeavor to promote unification education at schools defined in Article 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (hereinafter referred to as "elementary and secondary schools").
(2) The Minister of Unification may request the National Education Commission or the superintendents of education of the Special Metropolitan City, Metropolitan Cities, Special Self-Governing City, Dos, or Special Self-Governing Province (hereinafter referred to as "superintendents of education") to include unification education (including fundamental matters concerning unification education provided for in Article 3-2(1)) in the education curriculum of elementary and secondary schools; and the National Education Commission or the superintendents of education shall, upon such request, include unification education in the education curriculum. <Amended on Oct. 19, 2009; Jul. 28, 2011; Mar. 23, 2013; Aug. 13, 2013; Jul. 20, 2021>
(3) The Government shall encourage a person establishing and operating a higher educational institution defined in Article 2 of the Higher Education Act, including universities and colleges, to establish departments, open lectures, and establish and operate, etc., a research institute related to unification issues; and may fully or partially subsidize necessary expenses for experiential learning and lectures relating to unification, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended on Mar. 13, 2018>
(4) The Minister of Unification may annually conduct a fact-finding survey on the unification education of elementary and secondary schools in consultation with the Minister of Education, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Added on Aug. 13, 2013>
(5) The Minister of Unification may fully or partially subsidize expenses of experiential learning and lectures relating to unification, provided by elementary and secondary schools. <Added on Aug. 13, 2013>
[This Article Wholly Amended on Dec. 31, 2008]
Article 9(Request for receiving unification education ) #
(1) The Minister of Unification may request a person who provides unification education, a person who is engaged in the business of exchange and cooperation between South and North Korea, a person who is engaged in the affairs of preparing for the unification, or a person who is deemed to be in need of receiving unification education, to receive unification education.
(2) When the Minister of Unification intends to select the subjects of unification education as provided for in paragraph (1), he or she shall, in advance, consult with the head of a relevant administrative agency or organization.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Dec. 31, 2008]
Article 9-2(Training of professional unification educators) #
(1) The Minister of Unification may establish a professional course in unification education and grant qualifications as a professional unification educator to a person who has completed the course. <Amended on Jan. 5, 2021>
(2) The Minister of Unification shall continuously manage professional instructors who have been qualified pursuant to paragraph (1), through re-education or the like. <Added on Jan. 5, 2021>
(3) Details of the operation, etc. of the professional course in unification education established under paragraph (1) and re-education under paragraph (2) shall be determined by the Minister of Unification. <Amended on Jan. 5, 2021>
[This Article Added on Oct. 19, 2009]
Article 10(Unification education council ) #
(1) Any person who provides unification education may establish Unification Education Council (hereinafter referred to as the "Council") with authorization from the Minister of Unification to conduct consultation and coordination to efficiently provide unification education and to promote mutual cooperation among relevant persons.
(2) Matters necessary for the organization, operation, etc. of the Council shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Dec. 31, 2008]
Article 10-2(Unification education officials) #
(1) The Minister of Unification shall commission a unification education official to contribute to laying a foundation for peaceful unification by assisting the public to be more committed to and more capable of pursuing unification through unification education activities.
(2) The Minister of Unification shall commission any of the following persons as a unification education official in consideration of gender: <Amended on Mar. 13, 2018>
1. A person who actively engages in unification education activities at an education institution of any education level and in communities;
2. A person who has completed the professional course in unification education under Article 9-2;
3. A person who has extensive knowledge of and experience in unification education and is recognized by the Minister of Unification.
(3) A unification education official shall conduct the following:
1. Providing unification education;
2. Supporting events related to unification education;
3. Other activities to promote unification education, which are deemed necessary by the Minister of Unification.
(4) The Minister of Unification may provide a unification education official with necessary expenses for unification education activities within budgetary limits.
(5) An institution, organization, etc. providing unification education pursuant to this Act may provide various administrative support to promote the activities of unification education officials.
(6) Where a person commissioned as a unification education official falls under any of the following, the Minister of Unification may dismiss the relevant person: <Added on Mar. 13, 2018; Jan. 16, 2024>
1. Where he or she has provided unification education, in violation of the basic principles for unification education provided for in Article 3;
2. Where he or she has breached any of his or her duties;
3. Where he or she is deemed unsuitable as a unification education official due to neglecting duties, demeaning behavior, or other grounds;
4. Where he or she is unable to perform duties for an extended period due to an accident or physical or mental illness;
Article 11(Accusation ) #
When a person has provided unification education, the content of which constitutes infringement of the basic order of free democracy, the Minister of Unification shall request the correction thereof or lodge an accusation against him or her to an investigation agency, etc. <Amended on Mar. 13, 2018>
[This Article Wholly Amended on Dec. 31, 2008]
[Title Amended on Mar. 13, 2018]
Article 12(Cooperation of relevant institutions ) #
(1) Where necessary for the implementation of, and support for, unification education, including the formulation of a master plan, the Minister of Unification may request cooperation from the heads of relevant central administrative agencies, the heads of local governments, superintendents of education, and the heads of relevant public institutions with respect to the provision of data or information, the submission of opinions, or other matters prescribed by Presidential Decree.
(2) The heads of relevant central administrative agencies, etc. who are requested to provide cooperation under paragraph (1) shall comply with such request, unless there is a compelling reason not to do so.
[This Article Added on Dec. 21, 2021]