Article 1(Purpose) #
The purpose of this Decree is to prescribe matters mandated by the Special Act on Support for Depopulation Regions and matters necessary for the enforcement thereof.
Article 2(Requirements for living population) #
(1) "A person who meets the requirements prescribed by Presidential Decree" in subparagraph 2b of Article 2 of the Special Act on Support for Depopulation Regions (hereinafter referred to as the "Act") means a person whose number of stays exceeds once a month in accordance with the standards determined and publicly notified by the Minister of the Interior and Safety. In such cases, the maximum number of stays per day shall be counted as once regardless of the actual number of stays.
(2) "A person who meets the requirements prescribed by Presidential Decree" in subparagraph 2c of Article 2 of the Act means the following persons:
1. A person registered as a foreigner under Article 31 of the Immigration Act;
2. A person who has filed a report under Article 6 of the Act on the Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans.
Article 3(Formulation and modification of Si/Gun/Gu master plan and implementation plan for responding to depopulation regions) #
(1) A Si/Gun/Gu master plan for responding to depopulation regions (hereinafter referred to as "Si/Gun/Gu master plan") under Article 6(1) of the Act shall include the following:
1. Basic directions and mid- to long-term strategies for responding to depopulation;
2. Policy tasks and priorities in response to depopulation;
3. Strategies for the financing and execution of financial resources necessary for responding to depopulation;
4. Operation of promotion systems and organizations necessary for responding to depopulation;
5. Cooperation with related agencies for responding to depopulation;
6. Other matters deemed necessary by the head of a Si/Gun/Gu (referring to the head of an autonomous Gu) in a depopulation region for an efficient response to depopulation.
(2) Where the head of a Si/Gun/Gu hears the opinions of residents pursuant to the main clause of Article 6(3) of the Act, such opinions shall be heard for a period of at least 14 days on the website or in the official report of the relevant local government.
(3) Where deemed necessary for the efficient formulation and modification of a Si/Gun/Gu master plan, the head of a Si/Gun/Gu may request that the relevant institutions, corporations, organizations, and experts provide necessary cooperation, such as submission of data or opinions.
(4) "Where modifying minor matters prescribed by Presidential Decree" in the proviso of Article 6(3) of the Act means the following:
1. Reflection of the details, following the enactment, amendment, or repeal of statutes or regulations;
2. Correction of minor mistakes, misspellings, omission, or apparent errors equivalent thereto;
3. Modifications to matters determined by a Si/Gun/Gu committee for responding to depopulation regions under Article 9 of the Act, which do not affect the essentials of a Si/Gun/Gu master plan.
(5) Where the head of a Si/Gun/Gu has notified the competent Mayor/Do Governor of a Si/Gun/Gu master plan pursuant to Article 6(4) of the Act, he or she shall disclose the details thereof on the website of the relevant local government without delay.
(6) Where the head of a Si/Gun/Gu has formulated or modified an annual implementation plan under Article 6(5) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "Si/Gun/Gu implementation plan"), he or she shall notify the competent Mayor/Do Governor of the relevant Si/Gun/Gu implementation plan and disclose the details thereof on the website of the relevant local government.
Article 4(Formulation and modification of City/Do master plan and implementation plan for responding to depopulation regions) #
(1) A City/Do master plan for responding to depopulation regions (hereinafter referred to as "City/Do master plan") under Article 7(1) of the Act shall include the following:
1. Basic directions and mid- to long-term strategies for responding to depopulation in a jurisdictional area;
2. Policy tasks and priorities for responding to depopulation in a jurisdictional area;
3. Support of and adjustments to financial resources necessary for responding to depopulation in a jurisdictional area;
4. Operation of promotion systems and organizations necessary for responding to depopulation in a jurisdictional area;
5. Connection with and support for the competent Sis/Guns/Gus (referring to autonomous Gus; hereinafter the same shall apply) to respond to depopulation;
6. Cooperation with the State and other local governments to respond to depopulation in a jurisdictional area;
7. Other matters deemed necessary by a Mayor/Do Governor for responding to depopulation in a jurisdictional area.
(2) "When modifying minor matters prescribed by Presidential Decree" in the proviso of Article 7(3) of the Act means the following:
1. Reflection of the details, following the enactment, amendment, or repeal of statutes or regulations;
2. Correction of minor mistakes, misspellings, omission, or apparent errors equivalent thereto;
3. Modifications to matters determined by a City/Do committee for responding to depopulation regions under Article 9 of the Act, which do not affect the essentials of a City/Do master plan.
(3) When a Mayor/Do Governor has notified the Minister of the Interior and Safety of a City/Do master plan pursuant to Article 7(4) of the Act, he or she shall disclose the details thereof on the website of the relevant local government without delay.
(4) Where a Mayor/Do Governor has formulated or modified an annual implementation plan under Article 7(5) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "City/Do implementation plan"), he or she shall notify the Minister of the Interior and Safety of the relevant City/Do implementation plan and disclose the details thereof on the website of the relevant local government.
Article 5(Formulation and modification of national master plan and implementation plan for responding to depopulation regions) #
(1) Where deemed necessary for the efficient formulation and modification of the national master plan for responding to depopulation regions under Article 8(1) of the Act, the Minister of the Interior and Safety may request that the relevant institutions, corporations, organizations, and experts provide necessary cooperation, such as submission of data or opinions.
(2) "Where modifying minor matters prescribed by Presidential Decree" in the proviso of Article 8(3) of the Act means the following: <Amended on Jul. 7, 2023>
1. Reflection of the details, following the enactment, amendment, or repeal of statutes or regulations;
2. Correction of minor mistakes, misspellings, omission, or apparent errors equivalent thereto;
3. Modifications to matters determined by the Presidential Committee for Decentralization and Balanced Development under Article 62 of the Special Act on Local Autonomy, Decentralization, and Balanced Regional Development, which do not affect the essentials of the national master plan.
(3) Where the Minister of the Interior and Safety has notified the heads of the relevant central administrative agencies and the heads of local governments of the national master plan under Article 8(4) of the Act, the Minister shall disclose the details thereof on the website of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety without delay.
(4) Where the Minister of the Interior and Safety has formulated or modified an annual implementation plan under Article 8(5) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "national implementation plan"), the Minister shall notify the heads of the relevant central administrative agencies and the heads of local governments of the national implementation plan and disclose the details thereof on the website of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
(5) Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the procedures for and methods of the formulation or modification of the national implementation plan.
(6) Except as provided in paragraphs (1) through (5), details necessary for the formulation and modification of the national master plan and the national implementation plan shall be determined by the Minister of the Interior and Safety.
Article 6(Notification of conclusion of agreements between state and local governments) #
Where the head of a local government (referring to a City/Do having jurisdiction over a depopulation region or a Si/Gun/Gu belonging to a depopulation region; hereinafter the same shall apply) concludes an agreement under Article 10(1) of the Act with the head of the relevant central administrative agency, he or she shall notify the Minister of the Interior and Safety of the details thereof within 1 month from the date the relevant agreement is concluded.
Article 7(Special support for local subsidies) #
(1) Where the head of a Si/Gun/Gu in a depopulation region files an application for the grant of special subsidies under Article 9(1)1 of the Local Subsidy Act in response to special financial demand related to the implementation of a Si/Gun/Gu master plan and a Si/Gun/Gu implementation plan under Article 14 of the Act, the Minister of the Interior and Safety may grant special subsidies after examining the application. <Amended on Nov. 25, 2025>
(2) Where the head of a Si/Gun/Gu in an area of concern over depopulation files an application for the grant of special subsidies under Article 9(1)1 of the Local Subsidy Act in response to special financial demand related to the implementation of a master plan and an implementation plan for responding to areas of concern over depopulation established by the Si/Gun/Gu under Article 34(3) of the Act, pursuant to Article 14 of the Act, the Minister of the Interior and Safety may grant special subsidies after examining the application. <Added on Nov. 25, 2025>
Article 8(Integration and operation of kindergartens and schools) #
(1) Where the superintendent of education intends to integrate and operate kindergartens under the Early Childhood Education Act (hereinafter referred to as "kindergartens") and schools under Article 2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (hereinafter referred to as "schools") pursuant to the former part of Article 22(1) of the Act, he or she shall gather consensus from students of the relevant kindergartens and schools and their parents.
(2) The superintendent of education may conduct a fact-finding survey on the conditions of integrating and operating kindergartens and schools, upon receipt of a request for such survey by students and their parents under paragraph (1), and may disclose the results thereof on the website of the relevant institution.
(3) Article 56 of the Enforcement Decree of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act shall apply mutatis mutandis to the standards and procedures for, and methods of integrating and operating kindergartens and schools under the former part of Article 22(1) of the Act. In such cases, "founders and managers of schools" and "competent authorities" shall be construed as "superintendents of education" and "schools" as "kindergartens and schools", respectively.
Article 9(Special support for local education subsidies) #
Where the superintendent of education files an application for the grant of special subsidies under Article 5-2(1)2 of the Local Education Subsidy Act in response to special financial demand for improving the educational conditions of kindergartens and schools or operating curricula pursuant to Article 22(4) of the Act, the Minister of Education may grant special subsidies after examining the application.
Article 10(Relaxation of standards for establishment of schools) #
Notwithstanding Articles 3 and 5 of the Regulations on the Establishment and Operation of Schools of Various Levels Equal to or Lower than High School, the superintendent of education may relax the standards for the establishment of schools (excluding private schools defined in subparagraph 3 of Article 3 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act) in a depopulation region pursuant to Article 22(6) of the Act by ordinance of a City/Do having jurisdiction over the depopulation region, in consideration of regional characteristics.
Article 11(Special cases concerning licenses or reports of ferry business) #
(1) "Facilities prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 24(7) of the Act means facilities under Article 17(1)10 of the Enforcement Decree of the Excursion Ship and Ferry Business Act.
(2) "Period prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 24(8) of the Act means 6 months.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Sep. 9, 2025]
Article 11-2(Special cases concerning the National Land Planning and Utilization Act) #
The "rate prescribed by Presidential Decree" in the latter part of Article 24-2(1) of the Act means 20/100.
[This Article Added on Sep. 9, 2025]
Article 11-3(Special cases concerning registration requirements for library materials and standards for library materials) #
Where a small library (referring to a library under Article 4(2)1a of the Library Act) is established in a single-family house under Article 2(2)1 of the Building Act in a depopulation region pursuant to the latter part of Article 25(1) of the Act, at least 50/100 of the requirements for library materials and standards for library materials under the same regulations shall be met, notwithstanding subparagraph 3b of Appendix 2 and subparagraph 2b of Appendix 6 of the Enforcement Decree of the Library Act.
[This Article Added on Sep. 9, 2025]
Article 12(Special cases concerning establishment and operation of museums or art galleries) #
Notwithstanding subparagraph 2a and b of Appendix 2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Museum and Art Gallery Support Act, a person who establishes and operates a museum (excluding a general museum under the Museum and Art Gallery Support Act) or an art gallery under the Museum and Art Gallery Support Act in a depopulation region pursuant to Article 25(2) of the Act may jointly employ a curator at 2 museums or 2 art galleries.
Article 13(Support for persons who intend to establish or relocate cultural, tourism and sports facilities) #
The State and local governments may provide the following support for persons who intend to install cultural, tourism, or sports facilities in a depopulation region or relocate cultural, tourism, or sports facilities installed in areas outside a depopulation region to a depopulation region pursuant to Article 25(3) of the Act: <Amended on Jun. 11, 2024>
1. Measures to preferentially grant authorization, permission, approval, registration, etc., or receive reports on the installation or relocation of cultural, tourism, or sports facilities;
2. Partial support for expenses falling under any of the following items within the scope prescribed by the state budget or ordinances of local governments:
a. Expenses incurred in the installation or relocation of cultural, tourism, or sports facilities;
b. Expenses incurred in the employment or relocation of workers following the installation or relocation of cultural, tourism, or sports facilities.
Article 13-2(Special cases concerning facility standards among registration standards for vacation condominium business) #
Where a person intends to register a vacation condominium business under Article 3(1)2b of the Tourism Promotion Act in a depopulation region pursuant to Article 25(6) of the Act, at least 20 guest rooms shall be provided within the same complex, notwithstanding subparagraph 3a(i) of Appendix 1 of the Enforcement Decree of the Tourism Promotion Act.
[This Article Added on Sep. 9, 2025]
Article 14(Special cases concerning the Immigration Act) #
"Persons who have the status of stay prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 26(1) of the Act means the following persons; provided, determinations on foreign workers under the Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers among persons falling under subparagraph 2 shall be made in consultation with the Minister of Employment and Labor:
1. A person who has obtained the status of permanent residency under subparagraph 2 of Article 10 of the Immigration Act;
2. A person who has obtained the status of long-term stay under subparagraph 2 of Article 10-2(1)2 of the Immigration Act.
Article 14-2(Scope of middle-market enterprises subject to support for reduction of or exemption from rents for industrial sites) #
The "amount prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 28(2)b of the Act means 300 billion won.
[This Article Added on Sep. 9, 2025]
Article 15(Scope of fact-finding surveys) #
"Matters prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 29(1) of the Act means the following matters: <Amended on Nov. 25, 2025>
1. Residents' satisfaction with depopulation regions and areas of concern over depopulation (hereinafter referred to as "depopulation regions, etc." in this paragraph);
2. Current status of administrative and financial support from the State and local governments for depopulation regions, etc.;
3. Current status of infrastructure, living convenience facilities, etc., in depopulation regions, etc.;
4. Living population in depopulation regions, etc.;
5. Other matters deemed necessary by the Minister of the Interior and Safety (only applicable where the Minister of the Interior and Safety conducts a fact-finding survey) or the head of a local government for the support of depopulation regions, etc., and for responding to local depopulation.
(2) "Institutions prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 29(2) of the Act means the following:
1. A local government-invested public corporation under Article 49 of the Local Public Enterprises Act;
2. A local public agency under Article 76 of the Local Public Enterprises Act;
3. A local government-invested research institute under the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Local Government-Invested Research Institutes.
Article 16(Organization and operation of centers for responding to depopulation regions) #
(1) "Public institutions having expertise prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 30(1) of the Act means the Korea Research Institute for Local Administration, an incorporated foundation under the Korea Research Institute for Local Administration Support Act.
(2) A center for responding to depopulation regions under Article 30(1) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "center for responding to depopulation regions") shall have one head, and human resources necessary for conducting the affairs related to responding to regional depopulation.
(3) If deemed necessary, the Minister of the Interior and Safety may subsidize the relevant expenses for the smooth operation of a center for responding to depopulation regions, within the budget.
(4) The head of a center for responding to depopulation regions shall report the operation results of the previous year and the business plan for the following year to the Minister of the Interior and Safety by the end of February each year.
(5) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) through (4), matters necessary for the establishment and operation of a center for responding to depopulation regions shall be determined by the Minister of the Interior and Safety.
Article 17(Management of personally identifiable information) #
The head of a central administrative agency and the head of a local government may process data containing resident registration numbers under subparagraph 1 of Article 19 of the Enforcement Decree of the Personal Information Protection Act or alien registration numbers under subparagraph 4 of the same Article, where it is inevitable to perform affairs concerning the establishment and implementation of support measures under Article 15 of the Act.
[This Article Added on Jun. 11, 2024]