Article 1 (Purpose) The purpose of this Ordinance is to promote balanced regional development through the protection of economically-vulnerable people and harmony among economic players, by providing for basic matters concerning the fostering, support, etc. of the local economy, local industries, small and medium enterprises, etc., in order to realize "Seoul, the City of Economic Democratization" within the scope of authority of the head of a local government bestowed under Article 9 of the Local Autonomy Act.

Article 2 (Definition) The term "economic democratization" in this Ordinance means to build a people-centered city where people live together and where the value of life is realized by reducing economic imbalance and unfair trade practices existing between large enterprises; small and medium enterprises; citizens; and generations, within the Seoul Metropolitan Government (hereinafter referred to as the "Seoul Government"), by protecting economically-vulnerable people, and by creating a mutually-beneficial environment.

Article 3 (Responsibility of Mayor) The Mayor of the Seoul Metropolitan Government (hereinafter referred to as the "Mayor") shall proactively endeavor to establish policies and systems necessary to realize "Seoul, the City of Economic Democratization."

Article 4 (Relationship to Other Ordinances of Seoul Government) (1) Except as expressly provided in other Ordinances of Seoul Government, this Ordinance shall apply to the matters related to economic democratization.
(2) Where matters related to economic democratization are provided for by any Ordinance or Rule, such matters shall comply with this Ordinance.

Article 5 (Formulation and Implementation of Master Plan) (1) The Mayor shall formulate and implement a master plan for "Seoul, the City of Economic Democratization" (hereinafter referred to as "master plan") within the authority bestowed under Article 9 of the Local Autonomy Act.
(2) A master plan shall include the following:
1. Basic objectives and direction-setting for implementing policies to support economic democratization of the Seoul Government;
2. Matters concerning collaborative cooperation, such as the protection of local micro businesses and small businesses;
3. Matters towards a fair economy, such as improvements in unfair trade systems;
4. Matters concerning the guarantee of labor rights, such as solutions to problems caused by temporary and contingent employment;
5. Funds necessary for implementing a master plan;
6. Cooperation with local governments in the Republic of Korea and foreign local governments to realize the City of Economic Democratization;
7. Other matters the Mayor deems necessary for economic democratization.
(3) The Mayor may gather various opinions through public hearings, debates, etc., in order to formulate a master plan.

Article 6 (Establishment and Functions of Economic Democratization Committee) (1) The Mayor shall establish an Economic Democratization Committee (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee") to effectively implement economic democratization policies and deliberate on support matters.
(2) The Committee shall deliberate on the following:
1. Matters concerning the formulation and implementation of master plans;
2. Matters deliberation on which is requested by the Mayor to remove barriers to economic democratization;
3. Matters deliberation on which is requested by the Mayor upon a proposal by autonomous Gus, being barriers to economic democratization, and raised through policy consultations between the Seoul Government and Gus under Article 15;
4. Matters deliberation on which is requested by the Mayor, being barriers to economic democratization, and raised in a citizens' proposition under Article 16;
5. Other matters the Mayor deems necessary to effectively implement economic democratization policies and facilitate the support therefor.

Article 6-2 (Existence Period of the Committee) The existence period of the Committee shall be by December 31, 2021.

Article 7 (Organization of Committee) (1) The Committee shall be comprised of not more than 20 members, including two chairpersons and one vice chairperson, with due regard given to gender equality.
(2) The First Deputy Mayor in charge of administrative affairs and a person elected by the Committee from among non-public official members shall serve as the joint chairpersons of the Committee; and the Officer of the Labor and Livelihood Security Policy Bureau shall serve as the vice chairperson of the Committee. <Amended by Ordinance No. 7154, May 16, 2019>
(3) The Mayor shall appoint or commission the members of the Committee from among the following persons: <Amended by Ordinance No. 6609, Sep. 21, 2017>
1. An economy planning officer;
2. A person recommended by a civic group, who has at least one year's experience conducting affairs concerning economy and people's livelihood policies in a civic group in a field related to economy and people's livelihood;
3. A current or former member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council (hereinafter referred to as the "City Council") in the field of finance and economy, recommended by the City Council;
4. A person who has expertise related to economic democratization, and who has at least five years' experience as at least assistant professor at a university or a research institute officially recognized;
5. A person who has the post of at least senior researcher at a research institute (referring to a research institution or research institute defined in Article 2 of the Act on the Establishment, Operation and Fostering of Government-Funded Research Institutes and Article 2 of the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Local Government-Invested Research Institutes) in the field provided in subparagraph 2;
6. A person who has considerable expertise and experience related to matters on which advice and suggestions are sought by the Committee, deemed by the Mayor as qualified under any of subparagraphs 2, 4 and 5.

Article 8 (Term of Office of Members) The term of office of members, other than public officials, shall be two years, renewable for only one further term: Provided, That the term of office of a member newly commissioned due to a vacancy shall be the remainder of the term of office of his or her predecessor.

Article 9 (Duties of Chairperson) (1) The chairperson shall represent the Committee and preside over its affairs.
(2) The vice chairperson shall assist the chairperson, and perform duties of the chairperson on his or her behalf where the chairperson is unable to perform his or her duties in extenuating circumstances.

Article 10 (Meetings of Committee) (1) The chairperson shall convene and preside over meetings of the Committee.
(2) In principle, a meeting of the Committee shall be convened semi-annually, however, where the chairperson deems it necessary to seek advice and suggestions on urgent matters, he or she may convene an extraordinary meeting.
(3) Where the chairperson intends to convene a meeting, he or she shall notify each member of the Committee of the date and time, place, and items on the agenda of the meeting in writing, seven days before he or she holds the meeting: Provided, That the foregoing shall not apply in urgent cases.
(4) The Committee shall hold meetings with a majority of incumbent members present; and pass resolutions with the consent of a majority of the members present.
(5) The chairperson may require public officials of related government agencies, related experts, interested parties, etc. to attend meetings to hear their opinions, in order to seek advice and suggestions on, and coordinate, agenda items.
(6) All matters discussed at a meeting shall be fully described in meeting minutes, etc., which shall be disclosed, in principle: Provided, That the Committee need not disclose matters discussed on agenda items that destabilize the local economy or cause confusion in the course of the execution of policies.

Article 11 (Grounds for Exclusion, Challenge, Abstention, Decommission, and Disqualification of Members) (1) A member of the Committee who has an interest in an agenda item related to advice and suggestions shall be deemed disqualified to serve as a member when deliberating on the relevant agenda.
(2) Where it is difficult for the chairperson to expect a member to provide fair advice and suggestions on and coordinate the relevant agenda item, the chairperson shall exclude the relevant member from providing advice and suggestions on the relevant agenda item.
(3) Where a member becomes aware that he or she has an interest in the relevant agenda item, he or she shall volunteerly abstain from deliberation on the relevant agenda item.
(4) Where any of the following grounds arises regarding a member, the Mayor may decommission the member even during the term of office:
1. Where he or she fails to perform his or her duties conscientiously;
2. Where he or she divulges or abuses confidential information he or she has become aware of in the course of his or her duties;
3. Where he or she wishes to be released from his or her commission for personal reasons, such as health.
(5) None of the following persons shall serve as a member of the Committee:
1. A person in whose case five years have not elapsed since imprisonment or heavier punishment was completely executed or stay of execution was ordered after he or she had been sentenced to imprisonment or heavier punishment;
2. A person in whose case two years have not elapsed since the period of a stay of execution expired after he or she had been sentenced to imprisonment or heavier punishment;
3. A person who is subject to a suspended sentence.

Article 12 (Conducting Affairs) The Mayor may require a specialized institution or organization, related expert, etc. to examine or research affairs concerning review or coordination of the agenda items related to economic democratization which require high-level professional expertise and experience.

Article 13 (Operating Rules) Except as provided in this Ordinance, matters necessary for the operation of the Committee shall be prescribed by the chairperson following the resolution made by the Committee.

Article 14 (Examination or Proposition of Economic Democratization Policies) (1) The Mayor may reflect barriers to economic democratization related to the following matters which occur within the Seoul Government;, in the economic democratization policy after analyzing and examining the barriers; or make a proposition and present his or her opinion to central government agencies, etc.:
1. Matters concerning collaborative cooperation, such as the protection of local micro businesses and small businesses;
2. Matters towards a fair economy, such as improvements in unfair trade systems;
3. Matters concerning the guarantee of labor rights, such as solutions to problems caused by temporary and contingent employment;
4. Other matters deemed by the Mayor as having influence on economic democratization policies.
(2) Upon receipt of a request from the Committee with respect to the matters provided for in paragraph (1), the Mayor shall present his or her opinion to central government agencies.
(3) Where necessary to remove barriers to economic democratization policies, the Mayor may seek advice and suggestions from the Government and the private sector.

Article 15 (Policy Consultations between City and Gus) (1) The Mayor shall gather consensus from Gus, in order to remove barriers to economic democratization policies related to the matters referred to in Article 5 (2) 1 through 7, and may request Gus to accept the opinion of the Seoul Government.
(2) Each Gu shall proactively participate in, and conscientiously implement, economic democratization policies of the Seoul Government; and may make a proposition and present its opinion to the Seoul Government, based upon the characteristics of the area under its jurisdiction.

Article 16 (Citizens' Propositions) The Mayor may explore economic democratization policies, barriers to economic democratization, etc. through public subscription, in order to facilitate the participation of citizens in economic democratization, and reflect citizens' creative opinions and propositions in the administration of the Seoul Government.

Article 17 (Development and Announcement of Economic Democratization Index) The Mayor may research and develop an economic democratization index, in order to ascertain the effect of the implementation, changing trends, the level of citizens' awareness, etc. of economic democratization; may publicly announce the results thereof; and may reflect such results in economic democratization policies.

Article 18 (Education and Events) (1) The Mayor may provide education for public officials under his or her jurisdiction and employees of related institutions or organizations, and provide support for the development of teaching materials, in order to enhance awareness of economic democratization, gather consensus, and prepare an educational system.
(2) The Mayor may hold international conferences, etc., in order to formulate direction-setting for collaboration and development through the inspection of tasks to be implemented for "Seoul, the City of Economic Democratization" and the sharing of examples of local governments of the Republic of Korea and foreign local governments.

Article 19 (Administrative and Financial Support) (1) Where necessary to implement economic democratization policies, the Mayor may provide administrative and financial support to related organizations or institutions.
(2) The Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on Management of Local Subsidies shall apply to methods and procedures for subsidizing expenses for administrative and financial support referred to in paragraph (1), and other necessary matters.

Article 20 (Enforcement Rule) Matters necessary for the enforcement of this Ordinance shall be prescribed by Rule of the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

ADDENDA
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Ordinance shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.
Article 2 (Duration of Committee)
The Committee shall remain in existence for two years from the date the Committee is organized; and the period of existence may be extended, based upon the findings from evaluation of its operation, etc.
ADDENDA <Ordinance No. 6609, Sep. 21, 2017>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Ordinance shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation. (Proviso Omitted.)
Article 2 Omitted.
ADDENDA <Ordinance No. 7046, Mar. 28, 2019>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Ordinance shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.
Article 2 Omitted.
ADDENDUM <Ordinance No. 7154, May 16, 2019>
This Ordinance shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.
ADDENDUM <Ordinance No. 7304, Sep. 26, 2019>
This Ordinance shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.