Article 1 (Purpose) The purpose of this Ordinance is to establish the external cooperation fund of the Seoul Metropolitan Government in order to promote mutual exchange and cooperation between the Seoul Metropolitan Government and other domestic local governments or foreign local governments and to provide for matters necessary for the operation and management of the fund.

Article 2 (Scope of Other Domestic Local Governments and Foreign Local Governments) (1) "Other domestic local governments" in this Ordinance means Metropolitan Cities, a Special Self-Governing City, Dos, a Special Self-Governing Province, and Sis/Guns/Gus (excluding autonomous Gus within the jurisdiction of the Seoul Metropolitan Government) defined in Article 2 of the Local Autonomy Act. <Amended on Jul. 15, 2010; Oct. 4, 2018>
(2) "Foreign local governments" in this Ordinance means foreign local governments with which it is considered necessary to promote mutual exchange and cooperation in order to raise the international profile of Seoul. <Amended on Jul. 15, 2010>

Article 3 (Establishment of Fund) The Mayor shall establish the external cooperation fund of the Seoul Metropolitan Government (hereinafter referred to as the "Fund") in order to secure and supply funds necessary to achieve the purpose of this Ordinance.

Article 3-2 (Expiration of Fund) The term of the Fund shall expire on December 31, 2023: Provided, That where it is necessary for the Fund to exist even after its term expires, this Ordinance may be amended to extend such expiration date. <Amended on Oct. 4, 2018>
[This Article Newly Inserted on Jul. 17, 2014]

Article 4 (Classification of Accounts) The Fund shall be operated in accordance with the following classification:
1. Domestic cooperation account;
2. International cooperation account.

Article 5 (Sources for Fund) The Fund shall be raised from the following sources: <Amended on Dec. 31, 2019>
1. Transfers from the general account;
2. Income earned through operating the Fund;
3. Donations from a legal entity, an organization, or an individual;
4. Other revenue.

Article 6 (Use of Fund) (1) The funds in the domestic cooperation account shall be spent for the following purposes:
1. Expenses incurred in programs necessary to promote exchange and cooperation with other domestic local governments;
2. Expenses incurred in the recovery and relief from disasters that occur within the jurisdiction of other domestic local governments;
3. Expenses incurred in the operation and management of the Fund.
(2) The funds in the international cooperation account shall be spent for the following purposes:
1. Expenses incurred in programs necessary to promote exchange and cooperation with foreign local governments;
2. Expenses incurred in relief from disasters with which foreign local governments are currently confronted;
3. Expenses incurred in the operation and management of the Fund.

Article 7 (Fund Management) In order to operate the Fund efficiently, public officials responsible for fund management shall be appointed as follows: Provided, That public officials in charge of accounting in each office under the Seoul Metropolitan Government Rule on Budget and Fund Accounting shall be appointed as public officials responsible for fund management so that they can carry out administrative work regarding causes for disbursement (including contracting) and payment orders, among administrative work of the public officials responsible for fund management, in order to raise the transparency in the process of spending expenses for programs financed by the Fund: <Amended on Apr. 3, 2008; Jan. 7, 2010; Jul. 28, 2011; Dec. 29, 2011; Mar. 15, 2012; Mar. 28, 2013; Dec. 31, 2020>
1. Fund management officers: The Chief Officer of Management and Planning Office;
2. Assistant fund management officers:
(a) Domestic cooperation account: The Director of Collaborative Cooperation Division;
(b) International cooperation account: The Director of International Relations Division;
3. The Deputy Director responsible for each account of the Fund shall serve as the fund receipt and disbursement officer.

Article 8 (Establishment and Functions of Committee for Deliberation on Fund Operation) In order to deliberate on matters regarding the management and operation of the Fund, the committee for deliberation on the fund management of the domestic cooperation account shall be established for the domestic cooperation account and the committee for deliberation on the fund management of the international cooperation account for the international cooperation account respectively (hereinafter referred to as the "committee for each account"), each of which shall deliberate on the following matters: <Amended on Jul. 15, 2010; Oct. 8, 2015>
1. Matters regarding the fund operation plan;
2. Making decisions on programs eligible for the disbursement of the Fund and the scale of such disbursement;
3. Analysis on outcomes from the operation of the Fund and the settlement of accounts;
4. Deleted; <Jul. 16, 2020>
5. Other matters that the Mayor considers necessary for the efficient operation and management of the Fund.

Article 9 (Organization of Committee for Each Account) (1) The committee for each account under Article 8, with the exception of the subparagraphs, shall be comprised of not more than 10 members, including one chairperson.
(2) Members of the committee for each account shall be appointed or commissioned by the Mayor from among the following persons, and the chairperson shall be elected from among commissioned members: <Amended on Jul. 15, 2010; Apr. 3, 2008; Jul. 15, 2010; Jul. 28, 2011; Dec. 29, 2011; Mar. 28, 2013>
1. The competent Director-General or the Deputy Mayor, Director-General, or Chief Officer related to the relevant agenda item;
2. Persons who work for a corporation or an organization related to local autonomy, international exchange and cooperation, or international development aid;
3. Persons who have much knowledge and experience in local autonomy, international exchange and cooperation, or international development aid;
4. Members of the Seoul Metropolitan Council.
(3) The term of office for each commissioned member shall be two years but may be renewed only once. <Amended on Jul. 15, 2010; Jul. 17, 2014>
(4) If the chairperson is unable to perform his or her duties due to any unavoidable cause, the member designated by the chairperson in advance shall act on behalf of the chairperson.
(5) The committee for each account shall have one executive secretary in order to have him or her carry out administrative work of the Committee, and the assistant fund management officer for each account shall serve as the executive secretary.

Article 9-2 (Disqualification of, Challenge to, and Refrainment by Members) (1) Where any member of the Committee falls under any of the following cases, he or she shall be disqualified from deliberating on the relevant agenda item to ensure impartiality: <Amended on Oct. 4, 2018>
1. Where he or she has provided or is providing any advice, or has conducted or is conducting any research or service with respect to the relevant agenda item;
2. Where he or she is a party directly interested in the relevant agenda item.
(2) If any ground exists making it impracticable to expect impartial deliberation by a member, a party to the relevant agenda item may file a request for challenge to such member with the chairperson.
(3) Any member falling under paragraph (1) or (2) may voluntarily refrain from deliberating on the relevant agenda item, and where a request for refrainment is filed against such member, he or she shall be disqualified from deliberating on the agenda item. <Amended on Dec. 31, 2019>
[This Article Newly Inserted on Jul. 17, 2014]

Article 10 (Operation of Committee for Each Account) (1) Meetings of the committee for each account shall be convened when a request is made by a majority of incumbent members or when the chairperson considers such meetings necessary.
(2) A resolution shall be adopted at a meeting where a majority of all incumbent members are in attendance and by the affirmative vote of a majority of those present.
(3) Other necessary matters regarding the operation of the committee for each account shall be determined by the chairperson, subject to prior resolution by the committee for each account.

Article 11 (Allowances) Members who attend a meeting of the committee for each account may be reimbursed for allowances and travel expense within the budget: Provided, That the foregoing shall not apply to public officials who attend a meeting in direct connection with their duties.