SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT ORDINANCE ON THE PROMOTION OF  GLOBAL CITY

Ordinance No. 4586, Dec. 26, 2007

Wholly Amended by Ordinance No. 5211, Jan. 5, 2012

CHAPTER Ⅰ GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1 (Purpose)

The purpose of this Ordinance is to enable the Seoul Metropolitan Government to jump up to be a global city by prescribing measures to support foreign residents, etc. residing in the Seoul Metropolitan Government and matters necessary to promote the attraction of foreign investment and international organizations.

Article 2 (Definitions)

The definitions of terms used in this Ordinance shall be as follows:

 1. The term "foreigner" means a person who does not have nationality  of the Republic of Korea;

 2. The term "foreign resident" means a person who resides within the jurisdiction of the Seoul Metropolitan Government for not less than 90 days and engages in activities for a living, a person who has acquired nationality of the Republic of Korea and his/her child, or a person who is not accustomed to Korean culture, such as Korean language, and life in Korea; 

3. The term "foreign resident family" means a community in which people make a living or residing together in the Republic of Korea with foreign residents who are in residence in or have an address in the Republic of Korea after having a relationship with them by marriage, adoption or blood;

 4. The term "foreign worker" means a person who does not have nationality of the Republic of Korea but who is offering or intends to offer labor in a business or a place of business located in the Republic of Korea to receive wages: Provided, That a person falling under Article 2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Employment, etc. of Foreign Workers shall be excluded;

 5. The term "foreign resident support organization" means a nonprofit corporation or organization, the main objective of which lies in supporting foreign residents;

 6. The term "foreign-invested enterprise" means an enterprise under Article 2 (1) 6 of the Foreign Investment Promotion Act, in which a foreign investor under Article 2 (1) 5 of the same Act has made an investment, which conducts a business in a district over which the Seoul Metropolitan Government has jurisdiction;

 7. The term "international organizations" means the United Nations, its subsidiary organizations and specialized agencies, organizations among governments, organizations among semi-governments, international nongovernmental organizations and organizations among local governments. 

Article 3 (Duties of Seoul Metropolitan Government)

The Mayor of the Seoul Metropolitan Government (hereinafter referred to as the "Mayor") shall promote appropriate policies for foreign residents, etc. residing within the jurisdiction thereof in order to create environments for a global city, and endeavor to promote the attraction of international organizations.

Article 4 (Master Plans)

(1) The Mayor shall formulate and execute a master plan for making the Seoul Metropolitan Government a global city (hereinafter referred to as "master plan") in order to realize a global city.

(2) The Mayor shall formulate a master plan every five years and include the followings in such plan:

 1. Basic direction;

 2. Objectives and strategies;

 3. Improvement in the living environment for foreign residents;

 4. Improvement in the investment environment for foreigners;

 5. The creation of a city in which multiple cultures are valued;

 6. Matters concerning the promotion of the attraction of international organizations;

 7. Matters concerning the raising and operation of funds;

 8. Other matters necessary for the realization of a global city.

(3) Where the Mayor formulates a master plan provided for in paragraph (1), such plan shall undergo deliberation by the Seoul Global City Deliberative Committee under Article 13.

Article 5 (Formulation of Action Plans by Year)

(1) The Mayor shall formulate and execute an action plan for making the Seoul Metropolitan Government a global city (hereinafter referred to as "action plan") every year in accordance with a master plan.

(2) The Mayor shall evaluate implementation outcomes based on an action plan every year and reflect such results in policies for making a global city.

(3) Where the Mayor formulates an action plan provided for in paragraph (1), such plan shall undergo deliberation by the Seoul Global City Deliberative Committee under Article 16.

CHAPTER II IMPROVEMENT IN LIVING ENVIRONMENT FOR FOREIGN RESIDENTS AND PROMOTION OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT

Article 6 (Improvement in Living Environment for Foreign Residents)

The Mayor may provide support for the following to foreign residents and their families:

 1. Teaching Korean language and how to adapt to a basic life;

 2. Consultation about difficulties, life, law, employment, etc.;

 3. Providing living convenience and emergency aid;

 4. Holding cultural or sports events for foreign residents;

 5. Administrative services necessary for conducting business of foreigners and foreign-invested enterprises;

 6. Protection of rights and interests of foreign workers; 

 7. Other matters deemed necessary by the Mayor for foreign residents to adapt themselves to a community.

Article 7 (Improvement in Investment Environment for Foreigners)

The Mayor may provide support in relation to the creation of investment environment for foreigners and a foreign-invested district in order to promote the attraction of foreign investment, and foreign investment eligible for support  and methods of providing support shall be governed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on Support for Foreign Investment.

Article 8 (Establishment of Foreign Resident Support Facilities)

(1) The Mayor may establish foreign resident support facilities (hereinafter referred to as "support facilities") in order to promote activities related to the subparagraphs of Article 6.

(2) The Mayor shall separately determine names and locations of support facilities and functions to be performed by each support facilities.  

(3) The Mayor may attract foreigner-related facilities and conveniences, such as a foreign chamber of commerce in the Republic of Korea, immigration office, foreign-invested enterprise and international organization, in support facilities provided for in paragraph (1) in order to promote the living convenience of foreigners and the attraction of investment and international organizations.  

(4) The Mayor may request the relevant administrative agency, corporation or organization to dispatch its public officials or employees to support facilities for them to work therefor for the operation thereof. 

Article 9 (Support to Foreign Resident Support Organizations)

The Mayor may provide administrative and financial support necessary for activities of foreign resident support organizations.

Article 10 (Entrustment of Affairs)

(1) When necessary, the Mayor may delegate or entrust all or some of facilities and affairs to a corporation, organization, institution or individual.

(2) The provisions of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on Entrustment of Administrative Affairs to Private Sector shall apply to matters concerning necessary procedures, methods, etc. for entrustment of facilities or affairs under paragraph (1).

(3)  The provisions of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on the Management of Public Property and Commodities shall apply to matters concerning procedures, methods, lending, etc. necessary for entrusting the management of support facilities the Mayor has directly established.

Article 11 (Cosmopolitan Day)

(1) The Mayor may hold the following events to commemorate the "Cosmopolitan Day" pursuant to Article 19 of the Framework Act on Treatment of Foreigners Residing in the Republic of Korea:

 1. The commemoration ceremony and cultural, art and sports events;

 2. The presentation of the results of research and international exchange events;

 3. The encouragement of persons of merit and organizations of merit (including foreign residents);

 4. Other events to raise regional interest in foreign residents and multiple cultures.

(2) The Mayor shall take charge of events under paragraph (1), and where necessary, he/she may have a private organization hold any event and provide administrative and financial support necessary therefor.

Article 12 (Official Commendation)

(1) The Mayor may officially commend an individual, corporation or organization falling under any of the following subparagraphs:

 1. Where he/she or it is deemed to have rendered distinguished service to the State and a community through foreign resident support activities;

 2. Where he/she or it is deemed to have rendered distinguished service to the social integration of Koreans and foreigners;

 3. Where he/she or it is deemed to have rendered distinguished service to the attraction of international organizations.

(2) The Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on Official Commendation shall apply to procedures, etc. necessary for official commendation.

CHAPTER III ATTRACTION OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Article 13 (Establishment of Infrastructure for Attracting International Organizations)

The Mayor may conduct the following activities in order to establish infrastructure for attracting international organizations:  

 1. Survey and research for international cooperation related to international organizations;

 2. International exchange of experts and information to attract international organizations;

 3. Education and training to train experts in international organizations;

 4. Other projects deemed necessary to establish infrastructure for attracting international organizations.

Article 14 (Organizations Eligible for Support for Attracting International Organizations)

The Mayor may support the following organizations to promote the attraction of international organizations:  

 1. Subsidiary organizations and specialized institutions that derive from international organizations, such as headquarters of international organizations, regional secretariats, centers, research institutes, consultative groups and universities; 

 2. Associations that have not less than ten member countries;

 3. Other international organizations and associations required by the Mayor to promote international cooperation.

Article 15 (Scope of Support for Attracting International Organizations)

The Mayor may support the followings for efficient activities to attract an international organization and for the stable operation of an international organization, the attraction of which has been determined:

 1. Domestic and international public relations concerning the attraction of the relevant international organization; 

 2. Providing data related to the relevant international organization;

 3. Administrative and financial support for the opening and operation of an international organization;   

 4. Other matters deemed necessary by the Mayor for the attraction or operation of an international organization;

 5. A person who intends to receive support under the provisions of subparagraphs 1 through 4 shall file an application for support with the Mayor, as prescribed by the Rules.

CHAPTER IV SEOUL GLOBAL CITY DELIBERATIVE COMMITTEE

Article 16 (Establishment of Seoul Global City Deliberative Committee)

The Mayor shall establish the Seoul Global City Deliberative Committee (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee") to deliberate on and seek consultation on the following matters concerning policies for making a global city:

 1. The formulation of a master plan pursuant to Article 4;

 2. The formulation of an action plan pursuant to Article 5;

 3. Matters concerning support to foreign residents and their families;

 4. Matters concerning the implementation of programs for foreign residents' adaptation to a community;

 5. Matters concerning mutual cooperation in common issues in the community for foreign resident support activities;

 6. Matters concerning the realization of a community in company with foreign residents;

 7. Matters concerning strategies to promote the attraction of an international organization and the implementation thereof;

 8. Other matters deemed necessary by the Mayor to realize a global city. 

Article 17 (Organization of Committee)

(1) The Committee shall be composed of not more than 20 members, including two chairpersons.

(2) The chairpersons of the Committee shall be the First Administrative Deputy Mayor of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and one person elected by the Committee from among its members, and members of the Committee shall be appointed or commissioned by the Mayor from among the following persons at the time of holding a meeting and they shall be dismissed at the time of closing the relevant meeting:

 1. Members of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Council;

 2. Director in charge of the formulation of a master plan pursuant to Article 4;

 3. Relevant persons of an institution or organization related to foreign resident support;

 4. Those who have abundant knowledge of and extensive experience in foreign resident support and the globalization of a city, such as professors and merchants and manufacturers;

 5. Staff of an international organization, and those who have professional knowledge of and experience in the field of international organizations or international cooperation; 

 6. Foreign residents who have resided in Seoul for one year or more.

Article 18 (Meetings of Committee)

(1) The Mayor shall convene meetings of the Committee where he/she needs deliberation or consultation on issues provided for in Article 16.

(2) The Committee shall hold meetings when a majority of the incumbent members appointed or commissioned in accordance with the provisions of Article 17 attend each meeting and pass resolutions with the concurrence of a majority of the members present.

Article 19 (Exclusion, Challenge and Evasion of Members of Committee)

(1) Where a member of the Committee falls under any of the following subparagraphs, he/she shall be excluded from deliberation by the relevant Committee:

 1. Where he/she has provided or conducted, or is providing or conducting services, consultations or research in relation to the subject of the relevant deliberation or consultation;

 2. Where he/she has direct interests in relation to the subject of the relevant deliberation or consultation.

(2) Where a person interested in deliberation by the Committee is under a special circumstance where he/she faces difficulty in expecting fairness from a member of the Committee, he/she may file an application for challenge with the chairperson of the Committee.

(3) Where a member of the Committee falls under a reason referred to in paragraph (1) or (2), he/she may evade deliberation on such issue for himself/herself, and where an application for evasion is filed, the relevant member of the Committee shall be excluded from the relevant agenda.

Article 20 (Operation of Committee)

The chairperson of the Committee shall determine matters necessary for the operation of the Committee following a resolution by the Committee, except matters provided for in this Ordinance.

Article 21 (Administrative Secretary, etc.)

One administrative secretary and one clerk shall be assigned to the Committee to conduct its administrative affairs, and the head of a department in charge of the Committee shall serve as an administrative secretary, and a public official of Grade V in charge of affairs of the Committee shall serve as a clerk.

Article 22 (Working Consultative Groups)

(1) The Committee may establish working consultative groups (hereinafter referred to as "consultative group") as follows for the efficient operation of the Committee and to enhance the professionalism thereof:

 1. Consultative group for global policy;

 2. Consultative group for economy;

 3. Consultative group for education;

 4. Consultative group for living environment;

 5. Consultative group for social integration;

 6. Consultative group for attraction of international organizations.

(2) Each consultative group shall be composed of not more than 15 persons who are those referred to in the subparagraphs of Article 17 (2) and public officials in charge in departments related to consultative groups referred to in the subparagraphs of paragraph (1).

(3) Articles 18 and 19 shall apply to matters concerning meetings of consultative groups and the operation thereof.

(4) Where the Committee deems it necessary, it may form a separate consultative group other than consultative groups referred to in the subparagraphs of paragraph (1).

Article 23 (Allowances, etc.)

The Mayor may grant an allowance for attendance or reimburse traveling expenses to members of the Committee or each consultative group who have attended a meeting of the Committee or each consultative group within the budgetary limits, as prescribed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on Granting Allowances and Reimbursement of Traveling Expenses to the Committee.

Article 24 (Confidentiality)

Neither member of the Committee nor related public official who has attended a meeting shall disclose confidential information he/she has learned in performing his/her duties.

Article 25 (Enforcement Rules)

Matters necessary for the enforcement of this Ordinance shall be prescribed by the Rules.      

      ADDENDA

Article 1 (Enforcement Date)

This Ordinance shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.

Article 2 Omitted.