Article 1(Purpose) #
The purpose of this Act is to develop a nature-friendly urban environment by providing for matters regarding advancement and support of urban agriculture and to contribute to harmonious development of cities and rural communities by raising urban residents' understanding of agriculture.
Article 2(Definitions) #
The terms used in this Act shall be defined as follows: <Amended on Mar. 21, 2017>
1. The term "urban agriculture" means any of the following activities prescribed by Presidential Decree, which uses land, buildings, or various living spaces in an urban area:
a. Growing or cultivating crops;
b. Cultivating trees or flowers;
c. Raising insects (including apiculture) as defined in subparagraph 1 of Article 2 of the Act on Fosterage and Support of the Insect Industry;
2. The term "urban area" means an area prescribed by Presidential Decree, among urban areas and control areas as defined in Article 6 of the National Land Planning and Utilization Act;
3. The term "urban farmer" means a person engaged in urban agriculture or a person engaged in an urban agriculture-related business;
4. The term "certified urban agricultural manager" means any person providing guidance, training, consultancy, and technology transfer relating to urban agriculture with the aim of enhancing urban residents’ understanding of urban agriculture, after obtaining a certified urban agricultural manager’s license as defined in Article 11-2(1).
Article 3(Responsibilities of State and local governments) #
(1) The State and local governments shall endeavor to secure land and spaces for urban agriculture and to develop infrastructure therefor and shall establish and implement policies necessary for vitalization of urban agriculture.
(2) Urban farmers shall endeavor to produce safe agricultural produce by applying environment-friendly farming methods and shall endeavor to prevent pollution of the living environment by safely managing or disposing of farming materials used for urban agriculture.
Article 4(Relationship to other Acts) #
Except as otherwise expressly provided inany other Act, urban agriculture shall be governed by the provisions of this Act.
Article 5(Formulation of comprehensive plans) #
(1) In order to advance and support urban agriculture, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs shall formulate a comprehensive plan for advancement and support of urban agriculture every five years (hereinafter referred to as "comprehensive plan") through consultation thereon with the heads of related central administrative agencies. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>
(2) Each comprehensive plan shall include the following matters:
1. Current status and prospects of urban agriculture;
2. Direction-setting for, and objectives of, advancement and support of urban agriculture;
3. Medium- and long-term plans for advancement and support of urban agriculture;
4. Plans for education and training on urban agriculture and training of professional human resources therefor;
5. Plans for research on urban agriculture and development and diffusion of technology for urban agriculture;
6. Plans for advertising urban agriculture and promoting informatization;
7. Other matters prescribed by Presidential Decree for advancement and support of urban agriculture.
(3) When the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs intends to formulate or amend a comprehensive plan, he or she shall submit the plan to the Urban Agriculture Council provided in Article 7, for deliberation; provided, such deliberation may be omitted when it is intended to amend a minor matter prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Dec. 2, 2016>
(4) The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs shall notify the heads of related central administrative agencies and the Special Metropolitan City Mayor, a Metropolitan City Mayor, a Do Governor, and a Special Self-Governing Province Governor (hereinafter referred to as the "Mayor/Do Governor") of the comprehensive plan formulated or amended pursuant to paragraph (3). <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>
(5) Where the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs deems it necessary to formulate or amend a comprehensive plan, he or she may demand the head of a related central administrative agency or the head of a local government to submit relevant data. Upon receipt of a demand to submit data in such cases, the head of a related agency or local government shall comply with such demand, unless extenuating circumstances exist. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>
Article 6(Formulation, implementation of implementation plans) #
(1) The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Mayor/Do Governor shall formulate and implement an implementation plan for advancement and support of urban agriculture every year (hereinafter referred to as "implementation plan") in accordance with the comprehensive plan. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>
(2) The Mayor/Do Governor shall submit an implementation plan for the following year and a report on outcomes of performance of the implementation plan for the preceding year every year to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, as prescribed by Presidential Decree, and the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs shall evaluate the outcomes of performance of the implementation plan for each year. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>
(3) Matters necessary for formulation and implementation of implementation plans and evaluation of outcomes of performance thereof shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
Article 7(Urban Agriculture Council) #
(1) In order to deliberate on the following matters regarding advancement and support of urban agriculture, the Urban Agriculture Council (hereinafter referred to as the "Council") shall be established as an organization affiliated to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs: <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Dec. 2, 2016>
1. Formulation and amendments of the comprehensive plans;
2. Evaluation of outcomes of performance of implementation plans under Article 6(2);
3. Research on urban agriculture and development of technology therefor under Article 12;
4. Establishment and operation of an integrated urban agriculture information system provided in Article 20;
5. Other matters the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs deems necessary for advancement and support of urban agriculture.
(2) The Vice Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs shall serve as the Chairperson of the Council, which shall be comprised of not more than 15 members, including one Chairperson, with gender taken into account. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Dec. 2, 2016>
(3) Members of the Council shall be commissioned or appointed by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs from among the following persons: <Amended on Dec. 2, 2016; Jul. 26, 2017; Oct. 1, 2025>
1. Persons recognized by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs as having abundant knowledge and experience related to urban agriculture;
2. One public official each from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Rural Development Administration, and the Korea Forest Service, who is in charge of urban agriculture-related affairs.
(4) Other matters necessary for organization and operation of the Council shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended on Dec. 2, 2016>
[Title Amended on Dec. 2, 2016]
Article 8(Categories of urban agriculture) #
(1) Urban agriculture shall be divided into the following categories, but subcategories thereof shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs: <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>
1. Urban agriculture in residential buildings: Urban agriculture by utilizing the interior, exterior, parapets, or rooftop of a house, an apartment building, or other building or urban agriculture by utilizing land adjacent to a house, apartment building, or other building;
2. Urban agriculture in neighborhood: Urban agriculture by utilizing land, etc. in the adjacent area around a house or apartment building;
3. Urban agriculture in city centers: Urban agriculture by utilizing the interior, exterior, or rooftop of a high-rise building in a city center or by utilizing land adjacent to a high-rise building in a city center;
4. Urban agriculture in a farm or park: Urban agriculture by utilizing a public urban farm defined in Article 14, a private urban farm defined in Article 17, or an urban park defined in Article 2 of the Act on Urban Parks, Green Areas;
5. Urban agriculture for school education: Urban agriculture by utilizing the land or building of a school for students' learning and practice.
(2) When the State or a local government advances and supports urban agriculture, it shall formulate and implement policies suitable for characteristics of each category of urban agriculture specified in paragraph (1).
Article 9(Surveys on actual conditions) #
(1) In order to efficiently formulate and implement comprehensive plans, implementation plans, and policies necessary for advancement and support of urban agriculture, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs may conduct surveys on actual conditions of urban agriculture. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>
(2) The scope and method of conducting surveys on actual conditions under paragraph (1) and other necessary matters shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
Article 10(Establishment of urban agricultural support centers) #
(1) The State and local governments may provide urban farmers with assistance, education, and training necessary to promote urban agriculture.
(2) In order to provide assistance, education, and training referred to in paragraph (1), the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the head of a local government may establish and operate an urban agricultural support center, which shall perform the following business activities, or may designate an institution or organization with appropriate facilities and human resources as an urban agricultural support center, as prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs: <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>
1. Education and advertisement of public functions of urban agriculture;
2. Establishment and operation of programs for experiencing and practicing urban agriculture;
3. Education on and diffusion of agricultural technology for urban agriculture;
4. Distribution and provision of containers for vegetable gardening (referring to containers, such as boxes, plastic containers, flower pots, in which plants can be grown with soil and water; the same shall apply hereinafter), seeds, and farming materials;
5. Other business activities deemed necessary for education and training in urban agriculture.
(3) The State and a local government may fully or partially subsidize an urban agricultural support center designated under paragraph (2) for expenses incurred in performing its business activities under the subparagraphs of paragraph (2) within budget limits.
(4) If an urban agricultural support center designated pursuant to paragraph (2) falls under any of the following subparagraphs, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs or the head of the competent local government may revoke the designation or may order to rectify a fault, as prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; provided, such designation shall be revoked, if such urban agricultural support center falls under subparagraph 1: <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>
1. If the institution for training professional human resources obtained the designation by fraud or other wrongful means;
2. If the institution for training professional human resources no longer meets the requirements for designation;
3. Deleted. <Dec. 2, 2016>
4. If the urban agricultural support center has continuously suspended its business activities specified in paragraph (2) for not less than one year without any justifiable ground.
Article 11(Training of professional human resources) #
(1) In order to train professional human resources for urban agriculture, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the head of a local government may designate the Rural Development Administration, a regional agricultural community development agency under Article 3 of the Agricultural Community Development Promotion Act, a university under Article 2 of the Higher Education Act, or a research institute, institution, or organization established for research on urban agriculture as an institution for training professional human resources, as prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>
(2) The State and a local government may fully or partially subsidize an institution designated under paragraph (1) for training professional human resources, for expenses incurred in training professional human resources within budget limits.
(3) If an institution designated under paragraph (1) for training professional human resources falls under any of the following subparagraphs, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs or the head of the competent local government may revoke the designation or order such institution to rectify a fault, as prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; provided, such designation shall be revoked if such institution falls under subparagraph 1: <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>
1. If the institution for training professional human resources obtained the designation by fraud or other wrongful means;
2. If the institution for training professional human resources no longer meets the requirements for designation;
3. Deleted. <Dec. 2, 2016>
4. If the institution for training professional human resources has continuously suspended its business activities for training professional human resources for not less than one year without any justifiable ground.
Article 11-2(Certified urban agricultural manager) #
(1) The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs shall grant a certified urban agricultural manager’s license to a person meeting both of the following requirements, and issue a certificate of certified urban agricultural manager to such person:
1. A person who has obtained national technical qualifications relating to urban agriculture prescribed by Presidential Decree (referring to national technical qualifications as defined in subparagraph 1 of Article 2 of the National Technical Qualifications Act);
2. A person who has completed an urban agriculture training program prescribed by Presidential Decree at an institution for training professional human resources established under Article 11(1).
(2) No certified urban agricultural manager may allow another person to use his or her name or lease his or her certificate.
(3) No person may use the name, or borrow the certificate, of a certified urban agricultural manager without acquiring the license; nor offer such use or lease to another person.
(4) The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs may require an applicant for a certificate of certified urban agricultural manager under paragraph (1) to pay fees as prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
(5) If the State or a local government intends to provide training programs on urban agriculture at an urban agricultural support center established under Article 10 or at an urban agriculture-related facility prescribed by Presidential Decree, it shall place a certified urban agricultural manager as prescribed by Presidential Decree.
(6) Other necessary matters for applying for a certified urban agricultural manager’s license and issuing a certificate shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
[This Article Added on Mar. 21, 2017]
Article 11-3(Revocation or suspension of certified urban agricultural manager’s license) #
If a person who has obtained a certified urban agricultural manager’s license under Article 11-2(1) falls within any of the following cases, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs shall revoke his or her license or suspend his or her license for a period not exceeding three years; provided, if the person falls under subparagraph 1 or 2, his or her license shall be revoked:
1. If he or she obtains the license by fraud or other improper means;
2. If he or she continues to perform duties during the period of license suspension;
3. If he or she allows another person to use his or her name as a certified urban agricultural manager or leases his or her certificate, in violation of Article 11-2(2);
4. If he or she offers to use the name, or lease the certificate, of a certified urban agricultural manager, in violation of Article 11-2(3).
[This Article Added on Mar. 21, 2017]
Article 12(Research and development of technology) #
(1) In order to encourage research into urban agriculture and improve the level of technology for urban agriculture, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs shall conduct the following activities: <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>
1. Surveying the demand for research and technology for urban agriculture;
2. Research and development of technology for urban agriculture;
3. Diffusion and exchange of outcomes from research on urban agriculture and technology developed therefrom and cooperation in such activities;
4. Other activities necessary for research and development of technology for urban agriculture.
(2) The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs may subsidize a person who performs research on urban agriculture or develops technology for urban agriculture for expenses incurred in such research or development of technology, within budget limits. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>
Article 13(Registration, support of urban agriculture communities) #
(1) Urban farmers may autonomously organize an organization to cooperate with each other in urban agriculture (hereinafter referred to as "urban agriculture community").
(2) The State and local governments may fully or partially subsidize urban agriculture communities for expenses incurred in urban agriculture, within budget limits.
(3) An urban agriculture community that intends to obtain assistance under paragraph (2) shall appoint a representative and register itself with the competent Special Self-Governing City Mayor or the competent Special Self-Governing Province Governor or the head of the competent Si/Gun/Gu (the head of a Gu means the head of an autonomous Gu; the same shall apply hereinafter).
(4) The criteria, procedure, and method for the registration under paragraph (3) shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>
Article 14(Establishment of public urban farms) #
(1) In order to promote urban agriculture and secure space for urban agriculture, the Mayor/Do Governor or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu may select a tract of land suitable for urban agriculture, out of public land in an urban area, and establish a public urban farm in the area.
(2) Where intending to establish a public urban farm pursuant to paragraph (1), a Mayor/Do Governor or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu shall submit business regulations of such public urban farm and a plan for operation and management thereof, respectively to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs or to the Mayor/Do Governor beforehand. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Dec 20, 2024>
(3) Where necessary, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs or a Mayor/Do Governor may request the Mayor/Do Governor or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu to correct or supplement any matter submitted pursuant to paragraph (2). <Amended on Dec. 20, 2024>
(4) Where intending to make changes to business regulations of a public urban farm, a Mayor/Do Governor shall notify the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs thereof and the head of a Si/Gun/Gu shall notify the Mayor/Do Governor thereof, in advance; provided, such prior notification may not be made in the case of minor matters prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Dec 20, 2024>
(5) Where intending to close a public urban farm, a Mayor/Do Governor shall notify the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs thereof, and the head of a Si/Gun/Gu shall notify the Mayor/Do Governor thereof, by not later than three months before the scheduled date of closure. <Amended on Dec. 20, 2024>
(6) Matters necessary for the submission, revision, supplementation, etc. of the business regulations of a public urban farm and the operation and management plan thereof under paragraphs (2) and (3) shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Dec 20, 2024>
Article 15(Purchase or exchange of land adjacent to public urban farms) #
(1) If necessary to establish a public urban farm, the Mayor/Do Governor or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu may purchase adjacent land within budget limits or exchange public land with adjacent land under a contract entered into with the owner of the land adjacent to the public urban farm.
(2) The Public Property and Commodity Management Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the procedure for the purchase or exchange of land under paragraph (1) and other necessary matters.
(3) The price for purchase or exchange when it is intended to purchase or exchange land under paragraph (1), shall be calculated in accordance with the Act on Acquisition of and Compensation for Land for Public Works.
Article 16(Lease of land of public urban farms) #
(1) Upon receipt of an application from an urban farmer, the Mayor/Do Governor or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu may lease the land of a public urban farm to the urban farmer.
(2) No person who leases the land of a public urban farm under paragraph (1) shall use the land for any purpose other than urban agriculture.
(3) When the Mayor/Do Governor or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu leases the land of a public urban farm pursuant to paragraph (1), he or she may collect rents, as prescribed by Presidential Decree.
(4) Requirements, procedures, and methods for the application and lease under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>
Article 17(Establishment of private urban farms) #
(1) Any person, other than the State or a local government, may establish and operate a private urban farm.
(2) The State and a local government may fully or partially subsidize a person for expenses incurred in establishment and operation of a private urban farm, within budget limits.
(3) A private urban farm that intends to receive subsidization under paragraph (2) shall file an application for registration with the head of the competent Si/Gun/Gu, along with descriptions of location and area, business regulations, and a plan for operation and management.
(4) The criteria, procedure, and method for the registration under paragraph (3) shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>
Article 18(Establishment of policies on exchange and cooperation) #
(1) In order to expand the base for urban agriculture and promote urban agriculture, the State and local governments shall formulate and implement policies for exchanges and cooperation between urban farmers or between urban farmers and farmers as defined in subparagraph 2 of Article 3 of the Framework Act on Agriculture, Rural Community and Food Industry. <Amended on Jun. 22, 2015>
(2) The State and local governments shall establish and implement policies for strengthening the links with weekend farm programs as defined in subparagraph 16c of Article 2 of the Rearrangement of Agricultural and Fishing Villages Act so that cities and rural communities can develop jointly through urban agriculture.
(3) Schools defined in Article 2 of the Early Childhood Education Act and Article 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act shall endeavor to promote education on urban agriculture and activities for practicing and experiencing urban agriculture in connection with education of dietary life under Article 26 of the Education and Support for Diet Education Act.
(4) In order to promote international cooperation in urban agriculture, the State and local governments may implement programs for international exchanges of technology and human resources for urban agriculture and international joint research projects.
Article 19(Holding of fairs) #
The State and local governments may hold urban agricultural fairs or competitions related to urban agriculture in order to promote urban agriculture.
Article 20(Establishment and operation of integrated urban agricultural information system) #
(1) In order to systematically and efficiently develop and support urban agriculture, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs may establish and operate an integrated urban agricultural information system for the following matters: <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Mar. 21, 2017>
1. Information about leases of public and private urban farms and application for lease;
2. Information about provision, exchange, discarding, and collection of containers for vegetable gardening and farming materials for urban agriculture;
3. Information about education and training of urban agriculture and applications for education and training;
3-2. Information about certified urban agricultural managers;
4. Information about technology for urban agriculture;
5. Other matters the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs deems necessary to systematically and efficiently develop and support urban agriculture.
(2) Matters necessary for establishment and operation of an integrated urban agricultural information system shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>
Article 21(Standards for management and disposal of farming materials) #
(1) In order to promote environment-friendly urban agriculture and prevent pollution of the living environment, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs shall establish and publicly notify standards for safe management and disposal of farming materials for urban agriculture (hereinafter referred to as "standards for management and disposal"). <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>
(2) Urban farmers shall comply with the standards for management and disposal.
(3) If an urban farmer is discovered to have polluted the surrounding environment in violation of the standards for management and disposal, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs or the head of the competent local government may order him or her to rectify the pollution. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>
(4) Upon receipt of an order to rectify a fault under paragraph (3), a person shall take measures in compliance with such order and shall report results of measures taken to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs or the head of the competent local government. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>
Article 21-2(Urban agriculture day) #
(1) In order to raise awareness of the importance of urban agriculture for creating a nature-friendly urban environment, the State shall designate the 11th day of April as Urban Agriculture Day.
(2) The State and local governments shall endeavor to provide appropriate events, education, and publicity on Urban Agriculture Day.
[This Article Added on Mar. 21, 2017]
Article 22(Hearings) #
If the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs or the head of a local government intends to take any of the following dispositions, he or she shall hold a hearing: <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013; Mar. 21, 2017>
1. To revoke the designation of an urban agricultural support center under Article 10(4);
2. To revoke the designation of an institution for training professional human resources under Article 11(3);
3. To revoke or suspend the license of a certified urban agricultural manager under Article 11-3.
Article 23(Delegation or entrustment of authority) #
(1) The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs may delegate part of his or her authority under this Act to the head of an affiliated agency, the Administrator of the Rural Development Administration, the Minister of the Korea Forest Service, the Mayor/Do Governor, or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>
(2) The Mayor/Do Governor may delegate part of his or her authority under this Act to the head of a Si/Gun/Gu, as prescribed by Presidential Decree.
(3) The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Mayor/Do Governor, or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu may entrust an institution or organization related to urban agriculture with affairs assigned to him or her under this Act, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>
Article 23-2(Penal provisions) #
The following persons shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not more than one year, or by a fine not exceeding 10 million won:
1. A person who has allowed another person to use the name of a certified urban agricultural manager or leased his or her certificate, in violation of Article 11-2(2);
2. A person who has used the name, or borrowed the certificate, of a certified urban agricultural manager, or offered such use or lease to another person, in violation of Article 11-2(3);
3. A person who has obtained a certified urban agricultural manager’s license by fraud or other improper means.
[This Article Added on Mar. 21, 2017]
Article 24(Administrative fines) #
(1) Any person who falls under any of the following subparagraphs shall be punished by an administrative fine not exceeding three million won:
1. A person who uses a public urban farm for any purpose other than urban agriculture, in violation of Article 16(2);
2. A person who violates an order to rectify a fault under Article 21(3).
(2) Administrative fines under paragraph (1) shall be imposed and collected by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Mayor/Do Governor, or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2013>