SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT ORDINANCE ON MULTICULTURAL FAMILIES SUPPORT

Ordinance No. 4799, May 28, 2008

Wholly Amended by Ordinance No. 5163, Sep. 29, 2011

CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1 (Purpose)

The purpose of this Ordinance is to contribute to improvement in the quality of life of multicultural families residing in the Seoul Metropolitan Government and their integration into the Korean society by helping them live a stable family life pursuant to the Multicultural Families Support Act and other Acts and subordinate statutes related to multicultural families.

Article 2 (Definitions)

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

 1. The term "multicultural family" means a family falling under any of the following items:

(a) A family composed of a marriage-based immigrant referred to in subparagraph 3 of Article 2 of the Framework Act on Treatment of Foreigners Residing in the Republic of Korea and a person who has acquired nationality of the Republic of Korea pursuant to Articles 2 through 4 of the Nationality Act;

(b) A family composed of a person who has acquired nationality of the Republic of Korea pursuant to Articles 3 and 4 of the Nationality Act and another person who has acquired nationality of the Republic of Korea pursuant to Articles 2 through 4 of the same Act.

2. The term "marriage-based immigrant, etc." means a member of a multicultural family, who falls under any of the following:

(a) A marriage-based immigrant referred to in subparagraph 3 of Article 2 of the Framework Act on Treatment of Foreigners Residing in the Republic of Korea;

(b) A person who has obtained permission of naturalization pursuant to Article 4 of the nationality Act.

Article 3 (Duties of Mayor)

(1) The Mayor of the Seoul Metropolitan Government (hereinafter referred to as the "Mayor") shall create all environments for a stable family life and the promotion of welfare of multicultural families residing in the Seoul Metropolitan Government and promote measures necessary therefor. 

(2) The Mayor shall have an organization and public officials in charge of the promotion of measures pursuant to paragraph (1).

(3) In promoting multicultural families support programs, in order to solve the communication problems of marriage-based immigrants, etc. and to raise the understanding of administrative services, etc,, the Mayor shall endeavor so that services in multiple languages may be provided.

(4) The Mayor shall understand the actual conditions of life of multicultural families and their members in the Seoul Metropolitan Government and reflect the actual conditions in measures for muticultural families support, and endeavor to conduct research related to them and train experts related thereto. 

CHAPTER II MULTICULTURAL FAMILY SUPPORT POLICIES

Article 4 (Support Programs)

The Mayor may support any of the following programs to support multicultural families:

 1. Education and public relations for the promotion of understanding on multicultural families;

 2. Providing basic information necessary for marriage-based immigrants, etc. to live in the Seoul Metropolitan Government and education for their adaptation to the Korean society;

 3. Teaching Korean language to marriage-based immigrants, etc., providing vocational education and training to them, and helping them find jobs; 

 4. Programs to help multicultural families maintain equal family relationships, such as family counseling, education on married couple, education on parents, and education on family life;

 5. Prevention of domestic violence in multicultural families and the protection of and support to marriage-based immigrants, etc. who have suffered from domestic violence;   

 6. Education on nutrition and health, dispatch of a helper before and after childbirth, support for medical services, such as medical examinations, to ensure that marriage-based immigrants, etc. may live a healthy life;

 7. Providing foreign language interpretation and translation services to marriage-based immigrants, etc.;

 8. Support for child care and education of children who are members of multicultural families and support necessary to raise linguistic ability, such as teaching Korean language;

 9. Support for all the expenses incurred in visiting homeland of families of marriage-based immigrants, etc. and inviting them;

10. Other programs deemed necessary by the Mayor.  

Article 5 (Formulation of Plans for Multicultural Family Support)

(1) The Mayor shall formulate, execute and evaluate an action plan on multicultural family policies (hereinafter referred to as "action plan") every year. 

(2) The followings shall be included in an action plan:

 1. Direction of multicultural family support policies;

 2. Matters concerning the following measures for multicultural family support:

(a) Support for the stable settlement of marriage-based immigrants, etc.;

(b) Support for the social and financial independence of marriage-based immigrants, etc.;

(c) Support for the formation of healthy family relationships in multicultural families;

(d) Protection of human rights of marriage-based immigrants, etc.; and

(e) Support for the rearing and education of children of multicultural families.

 3. Education and public relations to create healthy international marriage culture and to promote the understanding of multiple cultures;

 4. A plan for securing funds for multicultural family support programs;

 5. Matters concerning the connection of services and the establishment of a cooperation system between agencies for the efficient promotion of multicultural family support programs;

 6. Other matters necessary for multicultural family support.

(3) An action plan referred to in paragraph (1) shall be finalized through deliberation by the Multicultural Family Support Council under Article 6.

(4) When necessary for formulating and executing an action plan, the Mayor may request public institutions and other corporations or organizations to support and cooperate with him/her.

CHAPTER III MULTICULTURAL FAMILY SUPPORT COUNCIL  

Article 6 (Establishment of Council)

(1) The Mayor shall establish the Multicultural Family Support Council" (hereinafter referred to as the "Council") under his/her control in order to discuss and adjust important matters concerning improvement in the quality of life of multicultural families in the Seoul Metropolitan Government and their integration into the Korean society.          

(2) The Council shall be composed of not less than seven and not more than fifteen members, including one chairperson and one vice chairperson.

(3) The First Administrative Deputy Mayor shall be the chairperson of the Council and the director in charge of multicultural family support policy shall be the vice chairperson of the Council, and members of the Council shall be appointed by the Mayor from among the following persons:

 1. Those who have abundant knowledge of and extensive experience in multicultural family support policy;

 2. The heads of agencies related to multicultural families, such as an immigration office, office of education, employment center;

 3. Those who may represent civic or social groups related to multicultural families;

 4. Councilors recommended by the chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Council; 

 5. Multicultural families who have experience in social activities and policy development.

(4) The term of office of members who are not public officials shall be two years, and they may be reappointed.

(5) One administrative secretary shall be assigned to the Council to conduct its affairs, and a public official in charge of affairs concerning multicultural families, who holds a position corresponding to a section chief, shall serve as an administrative secretary.

Article 7 (Functions of Council)

The Council shall discuss and adjust the following matters:  

 1. Matters concerning the formulation of an action plan under Article 5 and the inspection and evaluation of the status of work done; 

 2. Matters concerning analysis and evaluation of survey, research and measures related to multicultural families;   

 3. Matters concerning the adjustment of multicultural family support programs and cooperation;

 4. Other matters deemed necessary by the Mayor for a stable family life of multicultural families and their adaptation to the Korean society.

Article 8 (Duties of Chairperson, etc.)

(1) The chairperson shall represent the Council and preside over its affairs.

(2) When the chairperson is unable to perform his/her duties due to unavoidable circumstances, the vice chairperson shall perform the duties of the chairperson on his/her behalf, and when both the chairperson and vice chairperson are unable to perform such duties due to unavoidable circumstances, a member of the Council previously appointed by the chairperson shall perform such duties on his/her behalf.

Article 9 (Meetings)

(1) Meetings of the Council shall be classified into a regular meeting held once a year and an extraordinary meeting convened by the chairperson when he/she deems it necessary.

(2) The Council shall hold meetings when a majority of the incumbent members attend each meeting, and pass resolutions with the concurrence of a majority of the members present.

Article 10 (Hearing Opinions, etc.)

(1) Where necessary, the Council may have related public officials or experts attend meetings to hear their opinions or request them to submit necessary data.

(2) The Council may grant an allowance and reimburse traveling expenses to members of the Council who attend a meeting of the Council and experts, etc. who attend the meeting to state their opinions within the budgetary limits: Provided, That this shall not apply to cases where a public official attends the meeting in relation to his/her duties.

Article 11 (Cancellation of Appointment of Members)

Where a reason falling under any of the following occurs, the Mayor may cancel the appointment of a member even during his/her term of office:

 1. Where a member resigns during his/her term of office;

 2. Where he/she faces difficulty in performing his/her duties due to death, emigration, disease requiring long-term treatment, etc.;  

3. Where he/she is deemed inappropriate for performing his/her duties as a member of the Council, such as the impairment of dignity;

4. Where he/she is sentenced to imprisonment or heavier punishment;

5. Where it is found that he/she has committed irregularities, such as exercising improper influence or making an improper request in relation to his/her duties; 

6. Where he/she fails to engage in activities of the Council for a long time.

CHAPTER IV MULTICULTURAL FAMILY SUPPORT CENTERS       

Article 12 (Designation of Support Centers, etc.)

(1) The Mayor shall designate a corporation or organization with experts and facilities necessary for multicultural family support as a multicultural family support center (hereinafter referred to as "support center"), and entrust it with all or some of affairs falling under the subparagraphs of Article 4.

(2) The Mayor may subsidize support centers designated pursuant to paragraph (1) for all or some of expenses incurred in conducting affairs within the budgetary limits.

Article 13 (Criteria for Designation and Cancellation of Designation, etc.)

(1) The provisions of Article 12 of the Multicultural Families Support Act, Articles 3 and 4 of the Enforcement Decree of the same Act and Articles 3 and 4 of the Enforcement Rules of the same Act shall apply to criteria and procedures for designation of support centers.

(2) Where a corporation or organization designated as a support center fails to meet criteria for designation provided for in Article 3 of the Enforcement Decree and Article 4 of the Enforcement Rules, or it is found to have committed any act against the public interest, the Mayor may cancel such designation.     

(3) The period for operation of each designated support center shall be three years and it may be designated again, and the Mayor shall enter into a separate contract for other necessary matters with each support center. 

CHAPTER V SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS

Article 14 (Official Commendation)

(1) The Mayor may officially commend multicultural family support organizations, individuals, public officials, etc. deemed to have rendered distinguished service to multicultural family support programs.

(2) The Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on Official Commendation shall apply to specific procedures under paragraph (1).

Article 15 (Support to Organizations, etc.)

The Mayor may provide necessary administrative support to corporations or organizations conducting multicultural family support programs, and subsidize them for expenses incurred in conducting such activities within the budgetary limits.  

Article 16 (Delegation and Entrustment of Authority)

(1) The Mayor may delegate his/her authority to designate support centers under Article 12 to the head of each Gu.

(2) The Mayor may entrust part of affairs belonging to his/her authority provided for in this Ordinance to a nonprofit corporation or organization and have it conduct such affairs.

Article 17 (Enforcement Rules)

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

 ADDENDUM

This Ordinance shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation: Provided, That the provisions of Articles 2 and 5 and Chapter III shall enter into force on October 5, 2011.