REGULATIONS ON OPERATION OF PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR STATE AFFAIRS

Article 1(Purpose) #

The purpose of this Decree is to contribute to enhancing the rights and interests of citizens by promoting the citizens' right to know and efficiently implementing national policies by prescribing matters necessary for domestic and international public relations regarding State affairs, performing public relations in the Government, gathering public opinion on State affairs, and presenting Government announcements.

Article 2(Definitions) #

The term "central administrative agency" in this Decree means a central administrative agency under Article 2(2) of the Government Organization Act and any of the following agencies: <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008; Mar. 23, 2013; Dec. 11, 2013; Oct. 1, 2025>

1. The Office for Government Policy Coordination;

2. The Korea Media and Communications Commission;

3. The Fair Trade Commission;

4. The Financial Services Commission;

5. The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission;

6. The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission.

Article 3(Principles of public relations activities) #

(1) The head of a central administrative agency shall disclose information on State affairs to the maximum extent possible, conduct public relations activities in accordance with the principle of fair provision of information, and promote citizens' right to know.

(2) The head of a central administrative agency shall ensure that policy promotion is made through active and effective disclosure of information.

(3) When the heads of central administrative agencies publicize policies related to other central administrative agencies, they shall cooperate with each other to conduct public relations activities.

Article 4(Coordination of public relations affairs for State affairs) #

(1) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall take charge of matters regarding domestic and overseas public relations for State affairs and Government announcements, and support and coordinate the public relations affairs of central administrative agencies, and overseas public relations affairs regarding the enhancement of national image. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008>

(2) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall formulate and implement a pan-governmental public relations plan, if necessary, with respect to policies related to various central administrative agencies and policies closely related to citizens' lives. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008>

(3) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may request central administrative agencies to provide cooperation as necessary for supporting and coordinating public relations affairs and formulating and implementing public relations plans under paragraphs (1) and (2), and the relevant central administrative agencies shall comply with such request, unless there is a compelling reason not to do so. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008>

(4) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may attend a meeting within the executive branch related to the determination of important policies of the State to express his or her opinion on public relations affairs, and may announce the results of the meeting on behalf of the Government in consultation with the head of the central administrative agency having jurisdiction over the relevant important policies. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008>

Article 5(Operation of Public Relations Strategy Council for State Affairs) #

(1) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall operate a Public Relations Strategy Council for State Affairs to discuss the basic directions for public relations for State affairs and matters for mutual cooperation among central administrative agencies. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008>

(2) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall serve as the chairperson of the Public Relations Strategy Council for State Affairs, and its members shall be determined by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism from among public officials who conduct an integrated management of policies and public relations affairs of each central administrative agency pursuant to Article 13 in consultation with the heads of the central administrative agencies to which the public officials belong. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008>

(3) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall determine other matters necessary for the composition and operation of the Public Relations Strategy Council for State Affairs in consultation with the heads of central administrative agencies to which the members of the Public Relations Strategy Council for State Affairs under paragraph (2) belong. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008>

Article 6(Operation of public relations council) #

The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may operate a public relations council comprised of relevant public officials of the relevant central administrative agencies, if cooperation and coordination by central administrative agencies are necessary for efficiently publicizing specific matters regarding the State affairs. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008>

Article 7(Formulation and implementation of public relations plans) #

(1) When the head of a central administrative agency intends to formulate and implement a major policy or event plan under his or her jurisdiction, he or she shall formulate a public relations plan related thereto, unless there is a compelling reason not to do so.

(2) The head of a central administrative agency may request cooperation from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism when necessary for formulating a public relations plan under paragraph (1), and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may adjust the direction, timing, method, etc. of public relations in consultation with the head of the relevant central administrative agency, if necessary for efficiently conducting business affairs related to public relations for State affairs. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008>

(3) If the head of a central administrative agency intends to announce a major policy related to citizens' lives, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may request the head of the relevant central administrative agency to have a prior consultation on the details and timing of the announcement. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008>

Article 8(Prior consultation on policy advertisements) #

(1) If the head of a central administrative agency intends to make a policy advertisement on major government policies or current State affairs, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may request the head of the relevant central administrative agency to have a prior consultation on the details, timing, methods, etc. of such advertisement. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008>

(2) Deleted. <Dec. 6, 2011>

(3) Deleted. <Dec. 6, 2011>

Article 9(Issuance of periodicals) #

(1) Promotional materials regularly issued by central administrative agencies shall be produced to consistently reflect national policy objectives and directions of policy measures.

(2) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may request the heads of relevant central administrative agencies to consult with the heads of the relevant central administrative agencies on matters requiring Government-wide public relations in issuing promotional materials under paragraph (1). <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008>

Article 10(Public relations through new media) #

(1) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall prepare measures for public relations through new media, such as policy portal sites, web mail systems, and social media, and shall ensure that central administrative agencies can utilize such measures. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008; Dec. 11, 2013>

(2) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may operate a consultative body related to public relations through new media to consult on matters requiring cooperation among central administrative agencies with respect to public relations through new media. <Added on Dec. 11, 2013>

(3) The head of a central administrative agency shall efficiently conduct public relations through new media, such as designating a department or public officials exclusively responsible for public relations by new media, but may request the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism to provide support, if necessary. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008; Dec. 11, 2013>

Article 11(Performance of overseas public relations affairs) #

(1) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may request a central administrative agency to cooperate in media coverage, such as press conferences, briefings, and interviews for foreign media, or to request materials necessary for overseas publicity. <Amended on December 31, 2008>

(2) In order to efficiently support foreign media coverage, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall establish and operate a foreign media support center and actively support foreign media coverage activities in Korea in cooperation with central administrative agencies. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008; Dec. 11, 2013; Feb. 6, 2024>

(3) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall analyze the contents of foreign press reports and promptly provide them to the central administrative agencies related to such reports. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008; Feb. 6, 2024>

(4) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may establish and operate a multilingual portal site to introduce Korea to foreign countries and, if necessary, request the heads of relevant central administrative agencies to provide support. <Added on Dec. 11, 2013; Feb. 6, 2024>

Article 12(Public relations education) #

(1) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall formulate and implement an annual plan for education on public relations for public officials in charge of public relations of central administrative agencies and public officials of major policy departments in order to enhance the efficiency and expertise of public relations for State affairs. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008>

(2) The head of a central administrative agency shall ensure that public officials under his or her jurisdiction complete public relations education courses necessary for performing their duties in accordance with the plan for education on public relations under paragraph (1).

Article 13(Persons in charge of promoting policies) #

The head of a central administrative agency shall have a spokesperson, etc. collect and reflect public opinion in the process of formulating, implementing, and evaluating policies, and enhance the efficiency of policy implementation through the linkage between policy affairs and public relations affairs. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008>

Article 14(Employment of private public relations experts) #

(1) The head of a central administrative agency may employ a person with professional knowledge and experience in public relations in the private sector as a public official in charge of public relations to enhance the expertise and efficiency of public relations affairs, as prescribed by the State Public Officials Act.

(2) In employing public officials in charge of public relations pursuant to paragraph (1), the head of a central administrative agency may hear necessary opinions from specialized public relations agencies, such as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, regarding the qualifications for employment regarding expertise in public relations. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008>

Article 15(Support for media coverage) #

(1) A central administrative agency shall provide the press with an equal opportunity for media coverage.

(2) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may formulate a plan necessary for supporting a smooth media coverage and efficiently promoting policies through such media coverage, and the heads of central administrative agencies shall formulate and implement detailed plans for supporting media coverage accordingly. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008>

(3) The head of a central administrative agency shall provide education necessary for public officials under his or her jurisdiction to perform public relations activities in accordance with the plans for supporting media coverage under paragraph (2).

Article 16(Briefing to the press) #

(1) The head of a central administrative agency shall formulate and implement a regular briefing plan for the press, and promptly and accurately inform the public of the Government's policies through occasional briefings in order to promote the citizens' right to know.

(2) The head of a central administrative agency shall endeavor to smoothly communicate with the press and provide relevant information in order to collect necessary public opinions in advance in the course of implementing policies and to publicize and explain policies on pending issues, but shall ensure fairness and transparency.

Article 17(Monitoring of media coverage of policies) #

(1) The head of a central administrative agency shall monitor media reports, new media, etc. with regard to policies under his or her jurisdiction and analyze the results thereof in order to gather public opinion on policies, and shall reflect such results in the formulation, execution, and evaluation of policies, if necessary. <Amended on Dec. 11, 2013>

(2) The head of a central administrative agency shall take measures necessary to provide citizens with accurate information when it is necessary to announce their opinions or positions with respect to media reports or when incorrect media reports are likely to mislead the public about the Government's policies.

Article 18(System to monitor news articles on policies) #

In order to support the business affairs under Article 17, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall establish a system to summarize and analyze the contents of media reports, etc. on policies, and to share the status of monitoring of media reports on policies of central administrative agencies among central administrative agencies, and provide the system to each central administrative agency. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2008>