Article 1(Purpose) #
The purpose of this Decree is to prescribe matters mandated by the Act on the Promotion of and Support for Environmental Education and matters necessary for the enforcement thereof.
Article 2(Formulation of national environmental education plans) #
(1) The Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment shall formulate a national environmental education plan (hereinafter referred to as "national environmental education plan") under Article 5(1) of the Act on the Promotion of and Support for Environmental Education (hereinafter referred to as the "Act") by September 30 of the year preceding the year in which the plan is to be implemented. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(2) "Matters prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 5(3)8 of the Act means the following:
1. Formulation and implementation of policies for strengthening school environmental education and social environmental education;
2. Establishment and operation of a cooperative system for school environmental education and social environmental education.
(3) "Minor matters prescribed by Presidential Decree" in the proviso of Article 5(4) of the Act means the following:
1. Current status of environmental education under Article 5(3)2 of the Act;
2. Development and dissemination of environmental education materials under Article 5(3)5 of the Act;
3. Facilitation of private activities and international cooperation for environmental education under Article 5(3)6 of the Act;
4. Establishment and operation of a cooperative system for school environmental education and social environmental education under paragraph (2)2.
Article 3(Formulation of City/Do environmental education plans) #
(1) The Special Metropolitan City Mayor, a Metropolitan City Mayor, a Special Self-Governing City Mayor, a Do Governor, or a Special Self-Governing Province Governor (hereinafter referred to as "Mayor/Do Governor") shall formulate an environmental education plan (hereinafter referred to as "City/Do environmental education plan") for the relevant Special Metropolitan City, Metropolitan City, Special Self-Governing City, Do, or Special Self-Governing Province (hereinafter referred to as "City/Do") under Article 6(1) of the Act, by December 31 of the year preceding the year in which the plan is to be implemented, including the following:
1. Establishment of infrastructure for regional environmental education;
2. Details of the implementation of environmental education reflecting the characteristics and conditions of the City/Do;
3. Implementation of the City/Do environmental education plan, evaluation of the implementation, and feedback on the evaluation results;
4. Measures to raise funds for the implementation of the City/Do environmental education plan.
(2) If a Mayor/Do Governor intends to formulate a City/Do environmental education plan, he or she shall have a prior consultation with the heads of relevant agencies, such as the superintendent of education, etc.
(3) A Mayor/Do Governor shall submit the results of the implementation of the City/Do environmental education plan for the preceding year to the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment by January 31 of each year. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(4) Except as provided in paragraphs (1) through (3), matters necessary for the methods, procedures, etc. for the formulation of City/Do environmental education plans shall be prescribed by municipal ordinance.
Article 4(Establishment and operation of Environmental Education Committee) #
(1) "Matters prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 8(1)8 of the Act means matters necessary for promoting and supporting environmental education, which are referred to the Environmental Education Committee (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee") for deliberation by the chairpersons of the Committee (hereinafter referred to as the "chairpersons") under the provisions, with the exception of the subparagraphs, of that paragraph.
(2) Members of the Committee (hereinafter referred to as "members") shall be as follows; in such cases, members falling under the category specified in subparagraph 2 shall constitute at least 1/2 of the total members of the Committee: <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025; Dec. 23, 2025; Dec. 30, 2025>
1. Each person nominated by the head of the relevant agency, from among public officials in general service belonging to the Senior Executive Service of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Planning and Budget (including public officials in special service or in extraordinary civil service equivalent thereto);
2. Persons commissioned by the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment, from among those with extensive knowledge of and experience in environmental education; in such cases, persons recommended, respectively, by a consultative body established under Article 182(1)1 of the Local Autonomy Act and a consultative body established under Article 42(1) of the Local Education Autonomy Act shall be included.
(3) When the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment commissions members falling under the category specified in paragraph (2)2, the Minister shall ensure that the number of members of a specific gender does not exceed 6/10 of the total number of commissioned members. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(4) Each member commissioned pursuant to paragraph (2)2 shall hold office for a term of 3 years and may be reappointed for a single consecutive term.
(5) If a member falls under any of the following categories, a person who has appointed or commissioned the member pursuant to paragraph (2)1 or 2 may withdraw the appointment of, or dismiss, the member:
1. If the member becomes unable to perform the duties due to a mental or physical disability;
2. If the member is involved in any corruption or illegality regarding his or her duties;
3. If the member is deemed unsuitable as a member due to neglect of duties, loss of dignity, or any other reason;
4. If the member fails to recuse himself or herself, despite falling under any ground for exclusion specified in the subparagraphs of Article 5(1);
5. If the member voluntarily declares that it is impracticable for him or her to perform his or her duties.
(6) Each chairperson shall represent the Committee and exercise general supervision over its business affairs.
(7) If both chairpersons are unable to perform their duties due to unavoidable reasons, a member predesignated by the chairperson who is a Vice Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment (meaning a Vice Minister designated by the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment) shall act on their behalf. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
Article 5(Exclusion from, challenge to, and recusal of, members) #
(1) If a member falls under any of the following categories, the member shall be excluded from deliberation and resolution by the Committee:
1. If the member or his or her current or former spouse becomes a party to the relevant agenda item (if a party is a corporation, an organization, etc., the executive officers thereof shall be included; hereafter in this subparagraph and subparagraph 2, the same shall apply) or has a direct interest in a party to the agenda item;
2. If the member is or was a relative of a party to the relevant agenda item;
3. If the member has provided any testimony, statement, research, services, or appraisal on the relevant agenda item;
4. If the member or a corporation to which the member belongs is or was an agent of a party to the relevant agenda item within the past 3 years;
5. If the member has worked for a corporation, organization, etc. to which a party to the relevant agenda item belongs within the past 3 years.
(2) If any ground for exclusion under paragraph (1) exists, or if it is impracticable to expect fair deliberation and resolution from a member, a party to the relevant agenda item may file a motion for challenge to the member with the Committee, and the Committee shall determine whether to accept the motion by resolution. In such cases, the member subject to the motion shall not participate in the resolution.
(3) If a member falls under any ground for exclusion specified in the subparagraphs of paragraph (1), the member shall recuse himself or herself from deliberation and resolution on the relevant agenda item.
Article 6(Meetings of Committee) #
(1) The chairpersons shall convene and preside over meetings of the Committee.
(2) A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and any resolution thereof shall require the concurring vote of a majority of those present.
Article 7(Composition and operation of subcommittees) #
(1) The Committee shall establish subcommittees classified as follows (hereafter in this Article referred to as "subcommittees") pursuant to Article 8(4) of the Act:
1. Subcommittee for training professional human resources for environmental education: Deliberation on matters regarding projects to train and support professional human resources for environmental education under Article 8(1)4 of the Act;
2. Subcommittee for designating excellent environmental education: Deliberation on matters regarding the designation of excellent schools in environmental education and the designation of excellent environmental education programs under Article 8(1)5 and 6 of the Act.
(2) The subcommittees shall be comprised of up to 10 members, including 1 chairperson, from among the members of the Committee.
(3) The chairpersons of the subcommittees shall be elected among and by their members.
Article 8(Organization and operation of working committee) #
A working committee may be established under the Committee to investigate, review, and coordinate agenda items to be discussed at the meetings of the Committee in advance or to consult on other matters requested by the chairpersons.
Article 9(Executive secretary) #
(1) The Committee shall appoint 1 executive secretary to manage its administrative affairs.
(2) A director-level public official of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment in charge of environmental education shall serve as the executive secretary. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(3) The executive secretary shall manage the administrative affairs of the Committee under the direction of the chairpersons.
Article 10(Allowances) #
Members and other similar persons who attend meetings of the Committee, the subcommittees, or the working committee may be paid allowances and reimbursed for travel expenses within the budget; provided, the foregoing shall not apply if a public official member attends a meeting of the Committee in direct connection with his or her duties.
Article 11(Operating rules) #
Except as provided in this Decree, matters necessary for the composition and operation of the Committee, the subcommittees, and the working committee shall be jointly determined by the chairpersons following a resolution by the Committee.
Article 12(Promotion of social environmental education) #
"Matters prescribed by Presidential Decree" in subparagraph 5 of Article 13 of the Act means research and development regarding social environment education.
Article 13(Provision of social environmental education) #
The head of a central administrative agency, a local government, or a public institution may provide social environmental education to public officials and employees under his or her jurisdiction for at least 1 hour each year through collective education or distance education, pursuant to Article 14(1) of the Act.
Article 14(Requirements for designation of social environmental education institutions) #
"Requirements prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 15(1) of the Act means the following requirements:
1. The articles of incorporation or founding purpose of a corporation or organization shall include matters related to environmental education;
2. One or more environmental education instructors qualified under Article 16(1) of the Act shall be regularly employed.
Article 15(Qualifications for environmental educators) #
(1) "Qualifications prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 16(1) of the Act means the qualifications specified in Appendix 1.
(2) "Environment-related statutes prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 16(2)2a of the Act means the following statutes:
1. The Water Environment Conservation Act;
2. The Soil Environment Conservation Act;
3. The Conservation and Management of Marine Ecosystems Act;
4. The Management of Marine Debris and Contaminated Marine Sediment Act;
5. The Marine Environment Management Act;
6. The Chemical Substances Control Act.
Article 16(Application for designation of training institutions for environmental educators) #
(1) The Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment or the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries (limited to the marine environmental field; hereinafter the same shall apply) may designate the following institutions as training institutions for environmental educators (hereinafter referred to as "environmental educator training institutions") pursuant to Article 19 of the Act: <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
1. National and public educational facilities;
2. Social environmental education institutions designated pursuant to Article 15(1) of the Act;
3. National environmental education centers and regional environmental education centers under Articles 24 and 25 of the Act;
4. Institutions affiliated with the State or a local government, whose foundation purposes include environment-related education;
5. Corporations established by the State or a local government to conduct environmental education projects;
6. Non-profit corporations or non-profit, non-governmental organizations established under the Civil Act or the Assistance for Non-Profit, Non-Governmental Organizations Act, whose primary purpose is to engage in environmental education.
(2) A person who intends to be designated as an environmental educator training institution pursuant to Article 19 of the Act shall file an application with the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment or the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, accompanied by the following documents, as prescribed by Joint Decree of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (hereinafter referred to as "Joint Decree of the Ministries"): <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
1. Education plans, including training courses for professional personnel;
2. Documents regarding the current status of teaching personnel, educational facilities, and equipment necessary for training professional personnel.
(3) Upon receipt of an application for designation under paragraph (2), the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment or the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries shall determine whether to grant designation after examining the current status of the curriculum, teaching personnel, educational facilities, and equipment necessary for training professional personnel, as well as other relevant matters. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(4) Upon designating an environmental educator training institution pursuant to paragraph (3), the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment or the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries shall issue a certificate of designation in the form prescribed by Joint Decree to the applicant and shall publicly announce such fact on the website of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment or the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
Article 17(Environmental education week) #
(1) One week, including Environment Day under Article 2(1) and Appendix 1 of the Regulations for Various Anniversaries, shall be designated as Environmental Education Week under Article 23 of the Act.
(2) In order to commemorate Environmental Education Week under paragraph (1), the State and local governments may hold events to strengthen citizens' commitment to conserve the environment and to promote environmental education.
Article 18(Designation of national environmental education center) #
(1) The requirements for the designation of a national environmental education center under Article 24(1) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "national environmental education center") shall be as specified in Appendix 2.
(2) A person who intends to be designated as a national environmental education center pursuant to Article 24(1) of the Act shall file an application for designation with the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment or the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, as prescribed by Joint Decree. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(3) Upon receipt of an application for designation under paragraph (2), the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment or the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries shall examine the current status of human resources, facilities, equipment, etc. of the applicant institution and shall determine whether to grant designation. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(4) Upon designating a national environmental education center pursuant to paragraph (3), the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment or the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries shall issue a certificate of designation in the form prescribed by Joint Decree to the applicant and shall publicly announce such fact on the website of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment or the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(5) The Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment or the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries may fully or partially subsidize a national environmental education center to cover expenses incurred in conducting the projects specified in the subparagraphs of Article 24(1) of the Act. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
Article 19(Awards) #
If the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment intends to grant an award pursuant to Article 29 of the Act, the Minister shall formulate an award plan including the standards and procedures for granting awards and shall publicly announce such plan on the website of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
Article 20(Fact-finding surveys on environmental education) #
(1) A fact-finding survey on environmental education under Article 30(1) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "fact-finding survey on environmental education") shall include the following: <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
1. Current status of human resources and facilities for environmental education;
2. Current status of environmental education activities and projects, and the actual status of operation of such activities and projects;
3. Other matters that the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment deems necessary to conduct a fact-finding survey on environmental education for the formulation and implementation of policies related to environmental education.
(2) A fact-finding survey on environmental education shall be conducted once a year, and the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment may additionally conduct a survey on specific matters specified in the subparagraphs of paragraph (1), if necessary. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(3) If the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment requests that central administrative agencies, local governments, public institutions, schools and corporations specified in the items of subparagraph 2 of Article 2 of the Act, and social environmental educational institutions under Article 15(1) of the Act submit necessary materials, etc. pursuant to Article 30(2) of the Act, the Minister shall prepare a fact-finding survey plan that includes the timing, purpose, details of such survey and shall notify the relevant institutions thereof in advance. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
Article 21(Entrustment of business affairs) #
(1) The Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment and the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries shall entrust the following business affairs to a national environmental education center pursuant to Article 31 of the Act: <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
1. Issuance of certificates of environmental educators under Article 16(1) of the Act;
2. Receipt of applications for the designation of excellent environmental education programs and support for deliberation by subcommittees under Article 21 of the Act;
3. Conducting of fact-finding surveys on environmental education.
(2) The Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment shall entrust the Korea Environmental Conservation Institute under Article 59(1) of the Framework Act on Environmental Policy with the following business affairs, pursuant to Article 31 of the Act: <Amended on May 23, 2023; Oct. 1, 2025>
1. Business affairs necessary to support environmental education in schools under the subparagraphs of Article 10(1) of the Act;
2. Business affairs necessary to implement policies for promoting social environmental education under Article 13 of the Act.
Article 22(Management of sensitive information and personally identifiable information) #
The Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment and the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries (including persons entrusted with the authority of the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment and the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries under Article 21(1)) may manage information constituting criminal history records under subparagraph 2 of Article 18 of the Enforcement Decree of the Personal Information Protection Act and data containing resident registration numbers or alien registration numbers under subparagraph 1 or 4 of Article 19 of that Decree, if it is inevitable to perform business affairs related to the issuance of environmental educator certificates under Article 16 of the Act. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
Article 23(Imposition and collection of administrative fines) #
The criteria for the imposition of administrative fines pursuant to Article 34(4) of the Act shall be as specified in Appendix 3.
Article 24 #
Deleted. <Mar. 12, 2025>