Article 1(Purpose) #
The purpose of this Act is to assist out-of-school youth in becoming healthy members of society by prescribing matters concerning support for out-of-school youth pursuant to Article 49 (4) of the Framework Act on Youth.
Article 2(Definitions) #
The definitions of terms used in this Act are as follows:
1. The term "youth" means a person as defined in the main sentence of subparagraph 1 of Article 3 of the Framework Act on Youth;
2. The term "out-of-school youth" means any of the following youth:
(a) A youth who has been absent from elementary school or middle school as defined in Article 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, or a school providing equivalent courses for at least three months, or a youth whose obligation to attend school has been postponed pursuant to Article 14 (1) of the same Act;
(b) A youth who has been dismissed or expelled from, or who has been dropped out of high school as defined in Article 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, or a school providing equivalent courses pursuant to Article 18 of the same Act;
(c) A youth who fails to enter a high school as defined in Article 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act or a school providing equivalent courses.
3. The term "support program for out-of-school youth" means a program, such as support for counseling, education, vocational experience, employment support, and self-reliance, based upon individual characteristics and demand of out-of-school youth.
Article 3(Obligations of the State and local governments) #
(1) The State and local governments shall take necessary measures, such as investigation, research, education, and campaigns, in order to protect out-of-school youth against social discrimination and prejudice, to respect and understand out-of-school youth.
(2) The State and local governments shall identify out-of-school youth early on and formulate and implement legal and institutional policies necessary for supporting them. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2021>
(3) The State and local governments shall endeavor to realize educational welfare for out-of-school youth. <Added on Mar. 23, 2021>
(4) The State and local governments shall formulate administrative and financial measures necessary for supporting out-of-school youth in order to meet their responsibilities under paragraphs (1) through (3). <Amended on Mar. 23, 2021>
Article 4(Relationship to other statutes) #
This Act shall apply to support for out-of-school youth, except as otherwise expressly provided in other statutes.
Article 5(Plans to support out-of-school youth) #
(1) The State and local governments shall formulate an annual implementation plan pursuant to Article 14 of the Framework Act on Youth, including the following matters:
1. Protection of out-of-school youth against social discrimination and prejudice and raising social awareness of out-of-school youth;
2. Development of, and assistance to, support programs for out-of-school youth;
3. Establishment and operation of cooperation systems among relevant agencies and community-based support systems to support out-of-school youth;
4. Investigations, research, education, and campaigns for support of out-of-school youth and improvement of institutional systems;
5. Social support measures, such as special support for youth in crises provided pursuant to Article 14 of the Youth Welfare Support Act;
6. Procurement and allocation of funds for support of out-of-school youth;
7. Other matters necessary for supporting out-of-school youth.
(2) The formulation and implementation of plans to support out-of-school youth, and other necessary matters, shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
Article 6(Fact-finding surveys) #
(1) The Minister of Gender Equality and Family shall conduct a fact-finding survey on out-of-school youth every two years in order to ascertain the status and conditions of out-of-school youth and to use the outcomes thereof as basic data for formulating policies to support out-of-school youth, and shall publish the outcomes thereof. <Amended on Mar. 23, 2021; Oct. 1, 2025>
(2) The Minister of Gender Equality and Family shall conduct a survey on the status of dropout students in consultation with the Minister of Education while conducting a fact-finding survey under paragraph (1). <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(3) The Minister of Gender Equality and Family may request the head of a relevant central administrative agency, the head of a relevant local government, the head of a relevant public institution referred to in the Act on the Management of Public Institutions, and other relevant corporations and organizations, to submit necessary materials or state opinions, if necessary for conducting a fact-finding survey under paragraph (1). In such cases, a person in receipt of such request shall render cooperation, except in extenuating circumstances. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(4) Matters necessary for the methods, details, etc. of fact-finding surveys under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
Article 7(Support Committee for Out-of-School Youth) #
(1) A Support Committee for Out-of-School Youth (hereinafter referred to as "Support Committee") shall be established under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Gender Equality and Family, to deliberate on the following matters concerning support for out-of-school youth: <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
1. Objectives of, and basic direction-setting for, polices to support out-of-school youth;
2. Improvement of statutes or regulations and institutional systems to support out-of-school youth;
3. Formulation of plans to support out-of-school youth;
4. Establishment of cooperation systems among the relevant agencies and community-based support systems;
5. Other matters requiring consultation on support for out-of-school youth.
(2) The Support Committee shall be comprised of not more than fifteen members, including one chairperson and one vice-chairperson; and its members shall be ex officio members and commissioned members.
(3) The organization, composition, and operation of the Support Committee, and other necessary matters, shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
Article 8(Support for counseling) #
(1) The State and local governments may provide counseling, such as psychiatric counseling, vocational guidance counseling, and family counseling, in order to provide effective and appropriate support for out-of-school youth.
(2) Matters necessary for the methods, details, etc. of support for education under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
Article 9(Educational support) #
(1) The State and local governments (including the superintendents of education) may provide the following support so that out-of-school youth may return to study: <Amended on Mar. 26, 2024>
1. Re-entering an elementary school or middle school, or re-admission to a high school as defined in Article 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act;
2. Entering an alternative school provided for in Article 60-3 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act;
3. Preparing for an examination to recognize their academic background as equivalent to graduates from an elementary school, middle school, or high school under Article 27-2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act;
4. Other matters necessary for providing educational support for out-of-school youth.
(2) Matters necessary for the methods, procedures, etc. of support for education under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
Article 10(Vocational experience and support for employment) #
(1) The State and local governments may provide the following support for out-of-school youth to allow them to gain vocational experience and to receive training tailored to their aptitudes and abilities:
1. Vocational aptitude tests and vocational guidance counseling programs;
2. Vocational experience and training programs;
3. Introduction and management of careers;
4. Other matters necessary for out-of-school youth to gain vocational experience and to receive training.
(2) The State and local governments may conduct vocational education and training for out-of-school youth in order to enable them to acquire and improve knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for finding employment and performing their duties.
(3) Details of support referred to in paragraph (1) and vocational education and training referred to in paragraph (2), methods for provision thereof, and other necessary matters, shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
Article 11(Support for self-reliance) #
(1) The State and local governments may provide livelihood support, support for cultural facilities, medical support (including support for medical costs for diagnostic tests after undergoing health examinations pursuant to Article 11-2), and emotional support, etc. necessary for out-of-school youth to be self-reliant, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended on Jan. 16, 2018; Mar. 26, 2024>
(2) The State and local governments may provide educational support, such as education about the economy, legal service, and culture, for out-of-school youth to help them become self-reliant.
(3) The State and local governments may give priority to providing special support for youth in crises under Article 14 of the Youth Welfare Support Act for out-of-school youth requiring support provided for in paragraph (1).
(4) Necessary matters for the support referred to in paragraph (2), methods and details for providing such support, etc. shall be prescribed by Ministerial Decree of the Gender Equality and Family. <Added on Mar. 26, 2024; Oct. 1, 2025>
Article 11-2(Medical Examination) #
(1) The State and local governments may conduct health examinations for improving health of out-of-school youth and preventing diseases.
(2) The State and local governments may entrust the National Health Insurance Service established under the National Health Insurance Act with the conduct of health examinations under paragraph (1).
(3) Matters necessary for the methods, details, etc. of medical examination under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
[This Article Added on Mar. 26, 2024]
Article 12(Support centers for out-of-school youth) #
(1) The State and local governments may establish a support center for out-of-school youth (hereinafter referred to as "support center") or designate any of the followings as a support center, if necessary for supporting out-of-school youth:
1. Youth counseling and welfare centers established under Article 29 of the Youth Welfare Support Act;
2. Youth organizations as defined in subparagraph 8 of Article 3 of the Framework Act on Youth;
3. Institutions or organizations having specialists and facilities necessary for supporting out-of-school youth.
(2) Support centers shall perform the following business affairs:
1. Supporting out-of-school youth as provided for in Articles 8 through 11;
2. Discovering community resources for supporting out-of-school youth, and correlating such resources or cooperation therewith;
3. Developing and disseminating programs for supporting out-of-school youth;
4. Providing information and engaging in marketing activities about programs for supporting out-of-school youth;
5. Discovering and disseminating exemplary programs for supporting out-of-school youth;
6. Improving social awareness of out-of-school youth;
7. Other projects necessary for supporting out-of-school youth.
(3) Support centers shall hire specialists with knowledge about, and experience in, relevant fields to perform the business affairs for supporting out-of-school youth.
(4) The State and the head of a local government may subsidize expenses incurred by support centers in performing the business affairs provided for in the subparagraphs of paragraph (2).
(5) Standards for the establishment or designation of support centers under paragraph (1), the period of validity of designation, procedures for designation, criteria for specialists referred to in paragraph (3), and other necessary matters, shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
Article 12-2(Evaluation of support centers) #
(1) The Minister of Gender Equality and Family may evaluate the results of operating support centers every three years and may incorporate the results of said evaluation into supervision, assistance, etc. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(2) Matters necessary for the standards, methods, etc. of evaluation under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by Decree of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
[This Article Added on Mar. 23, 2021]
Article 13(Revocation of designation of support centers) #
(1) The State and the head of a local government may require a support center to fully or partially suspend its business affairs for a period not exceeding six months, or revoke designation in any of the following circumstances; provided, he or she shall revoke designation in circumstances referred to in subparagraph 1:
1. Where the support center has obtained designation by fraud or other improper means;
2. Where the support center performs business affairs in violation of any term or condition of designation;
3. Where the support center ceases to comply with any of the standards for designation under Article 12 (5).
(2) The State or the head of a local government shall hold a hearing to revoke the designation of a support center pursuant to paragraph (1).
(3) Criteria and procedures for the revocation of designation and for the suspension of business affairs under paragraph (1), and other necessary matters, shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
Article 14(Connection with community-based integrated youth support systems) #
Support centers shall connect and cooperate with organizations comprising of community-based integrated youth support systems established under Article 9 of the Youth Welfare Support Act in performing business affairs supporting out-of-school youth.
Article 15(Connection to support centers) #
(1) The principals at all school levels as defined in the subparagraphs of Article 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (hereafter in this Article, referred to as "principal of a school") shall inform a student who becomes an out-of-school youth of the support programs for out-of-school youth and refer him to the relevant support center.
(2) Where the head of an institution or organization comprising of the community-based integrated youth support system established under Article 9 of the Youth Welfare Support Act (hereafter in this Article, referred to as "head of an organization") finds an out-of-school youth requiring support, he or she shall inform that youth of the support programs for out-of-school youth and refer him or her to the relevant support center without delay.
(3) Where an out-of-school youth is linked to a support center pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2), the head of a school or the head of an organization may notify the relevant youth (in cases falling under subparagraph 6, referred to as "personal information") of the purpose of collecting and using the following personal information (hereinafter referred to as "personal information"), items to be collected, the period of retention and use, and the method of destroying the personal information (hereinafter referred to as "matters to be notified of consent for personal information") and collect the personal information and provide the personal information to the support center; provided, this shall not apply where out-of-school youth become out-of-school youth due to illness or departure from the Republic of Korea: <Amended on Mar. 21, 2017; Mar. 23, 2021; Mar. 26, 2024>
1. The name of the out-of-school youth;
2. The date of birth of the out-of-school youth;
3. The sex of the out-of-school youth;
4. The address of the out-of-school youth;
5. The contact information of the out-of-school youth (telephone number, e-mail address, etc.);
6. The contact information of the legal representative of the out-of-school youth (telephone number, e-mail address, etc.).
(4) Deleted. <Mar. 26, 2024>
(5) Within six months from the date of receipt of personal information under paragraph (3), the head of a support center shall notify the relevant youth or his or her legal representative of matters subject to notification in personal information collection and use agreement and his or her authority to request suspension of processing of personal information under Article 37 (1) of the Personal Information Protection Act, and shall obtain consent from the youth or legal representative of the youth. In such cases, if the youth himself or herself or his or her legal representative requests the suspension of processing of personal information or if the head of the support center fails to obtain consent within six months of being provided with the personal information, said personal information shall be destroyed immediately. <Added on Mar. 23, 2021; Mar. 26, 2024>
Article 16(Duty to maintain confidentiality) #
No person who performs, or once performed any of the business affairs supporting out-of-school youth, shall disclose any confidential information he or she has become aware of in the course of performing his or her duties, to any third party or misappropriate such information.
Article 17(Cooperation among relevant agencies) #
If deemed necessary for achieving the objectives of this Act, the Minister of Gender Equality and Family may request the heads of relevant central administrative agencies or the heads of the relevant local governments, to formulate necessary policies or take necessary measures concerning matters prescribed by Presidential Decree. In such cases, the heads of the relevant central administrative agencies or the heads of the relevant local governments shall render cooperation, except in extenuating circumstances. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
Article 18(Delegation and entrustment of authority) #
(1) Part of the authority of the Minister of Gender Equality and Family bestowed under this Act may be delegated to the Special Metropolitan City Mayor, Metropolitan City Mayors, the Special Self-Governing City Mayor, Do Governors, the Special Self-Governing Province Governor, or the heads of Sis/Guns/Gus (referring to the head of an autonomous Gu), as prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
(2) The Minister of Gender Equality and Family may partially entrust his or her affairs provided for in this Act to a corporation or organization, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
Article 19(Prohibition against use of similar names) #
No entity, other than the support centers established under this Act, shall use the name "support center for out-of-school youth" or any similar name.
Article 20(Penalty provisions) #
Any person who discloses confidential information he or she has become aware of in the course of performing his or her duties or misappropriates such information in violation of Article 16
Article 21(Administrative fines) #
(1) Any person who uses a name that includes "Support Center" or similar, in violation of Article 19, shall be punished by an administrative fine not exceeding three million won.
(2) Administrative fines referred to in paragraph (1) shall be imposed and collected by the Minister of Gender Equality and Family or the heads of local governments, as prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>