Article 1 (Purpose) The purpose of this Ordinance is to enhance the quality of citizens' life and prevent damage to ecosystems by providing for matters necessary for the prevention of light pollution and the systematic control of urban lighting in the Seoul Metropolitan City.

Article 2 (Definitions) The terms used in this Ordinance shall be defined as follows:
1. “Light pollution” means a phenomenon that adversely affects the creation of a healthy and comfortable lighting environment due to the inappropriate use of lighting fixtures, leaking lights, etc.;
2. “Urban lighting” means lighting that keeps spaces and objects in a city illuminated in a functionally appropriate manner according to needs;
3. “Lighting environment” means an environment that includes the radiation of lights that exist in nature and the radiation of artificial lights;
4. “Leaking lights” means artificial light sources that adversely affect the ecosystem in any other area or surrounding environments in deviation from the intended extent of lighting;
5. “Outdoor lighting” means any lighting other than indoor lighting;
6. “Wall lamp on a building" means an artificial lighting fixture installed on an external wall of a building;
7. “Wall lamp on a facility” means an artificial lighting fixture installed on a wall of any facility or structure, which is not a building;
8. “Private lighting” means an outdoor lighting fixture installed by a private individual for his/her own needs;
9. “Upward luminous flux ratio” means the radiation ratio of light from a lighting fixture or lighting equipment toward the horizontal surface;
10. “Luminance on a building surface” means the degree of brightness of light radiated from a lighting fixture and reflected on the surface of a building;
11. “Media-facade scenic lighting” means a lighting method in which a building and lighting are integrated to control the luminance, colors, etc. and enable the movements of lights with LED lighting fixtures, beam projectors, etc.

Article 3 (Metropolitan Government's Responsibilities) (1) The Mayor of the Seoul Metropolitan Government (hereinafter referred to as the “Mayor”) shall take reasonable and comprehensive measures to prevent light pollution and conserve energy.
(2) The Mayor shall develop and disseminate technology necessary for the control of urban lighting so as to prevent light pollution and conserve energy.
(3) The Mayor shall provide citizens with information about light pollution and conduct educational programs and pubic relations activities.
(4) The Mayor may render administrative and financial assistances, within budgetary limits, if necessary in implementing the measures under paragraph (1).
(5) Every citizen shall endeavor to prevent light pollution and cooperate with the Mayor in measures taken by the Mayor for the prevention of light pollution and the control of urban lighting.

Article 4 (Plans for Prevention of Light Pollution and Control of Urban Lighting) The Mayor may formulate and implement a plan to prevent light pollution and control urban lighting (hereinafter referred to as the “light pollution prevention plan”) on a five-yearly basis, including the following matters:
1. Objectives and direction-setting for the prevention of light pollution and the control of urban lighting;
2. Matters concerning the analysis on the current status of urban lighting and the impact assessment of light pollution;
3. Countermeasures for the prevention of light pollution in each area and for each phase;
4. Matters concerning the energy saving in urban lighting and the reduction of carbon dioxide;
5. Measures concerning the facilitation of development of technology for the prevention of light pollution;
6. Measures for education and public relations for the prevention of light pollution;
7. Calculation of costs and expenses for the implementation of projects for the prevention of light pollution and a scheme for raising a fund therefor;
8. Matters concerning the support for projects for the formation and improvement of night views;
9. Other matters necessary for the implementation of the light pollution prevention plan.
(2) When the Mayor formulates or revises the light pollution prevention plan pursuant to paragraph (1), he/she shall hear the Metropolitan Council's opinion thereon and then bring the plan to the light pollution prevention committee under Article 5 for deliberation.
(3) When the Mayor has formulated or revised the light pollution prevention plan pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2), he/she shall give public notice thereof through the official bulletin of the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

Article 5 (Light Pollution Prevention Committee) (1) The Mayor shall establish the light pollution prevention committee (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee") within the Seoul Metropolitan Government to deliberate on the following matters:
1. Matters concerning the formulation and implementation of the light pollution prevention plan;
2. Matters concerning the rearrangement of and support for systems for the efficient promotion of the prevention of light pollution and the control of urban lighting;
3. Matters concerning the designation of lighting environment control areas and the cancellation of the designation;
4. Matters concerning the evaluation of results of the implementation of measures for preventing light pollution;
5. Matters concerning lighting plans for each specific use, such as scenic lighting and road lighting, and the application of lighting fixtures;
6. Matters concerning the prevention of light pollution by outdoor advertising materials;
7. Matters concerning lighting plans under Article 7;
8. Other matters the Mayor considers necessary for the prevention of light pollution and the control of urban lighting.
(2) The functions of the Committee under paragraph (1) may be performed by the Seoul Design Committee under Article 7 of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on Urban Design.

Article 6 (Designation of Lighting Environment Control Areas and Cancellation of Designation) (1) The Mayor may designate lighting environment control areas as follows, in order to prevent light pollution and properly control urban lighting:
1. Class I lighting environment control area: An area in which lighting is likely to have substantial adverse impacts on the natural environment;
2. Class II lighting environment control area: An area in which lighting is likely to have adverse impacts on the growth of fauna and flora and local features;
3. Class III lighting environment control area: An area in which lighting may be used for the safety and convenience of citizens, but does not need to be used continuously;
4. Class IV lighting environment control area: An area in which a certain level of lighting environment is required because of the extent of citizens' activities;
5. Class V lighting environment control area: An area in which a high level of lighting environment is continuously required for citizens' activities;
6. Class VI lighting environment control area: An area in which a very high level of lighting environment is required temporarily for any domestic or international event or the promotion of tourism, or otherwise.
(2) If purposes of the designation of a lighting environment control area designated pursuant to paragraph (1) are frustrated or it is necessary to alter a lighting environment control area, the designation of the lighting environment control area may be cancelled or altered through deliberation by the Committee.
(3) Detailed standards for the designation of lighting environment control areas under the subparagraphs of paragraph (1) and necessary matters, such as the upward luminous flux ratio for each control area, the luminance on a building surface, and the standards for the permission of light radiation, shall be prescribed by rules.

Article 7 (Lighting Plans) (1) A person who intends to install an outdoor lighting system shall establish a lighting plan before installing lighting facilities and shall reflect standards prescribed by rules for the permission for light radiation in the lighting plan.
(2) The lighting plan established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be deliberated on by the Committee, and the matters subject to deliberation are as specified in the Table attached hereto.

Article 8 (Standards for Installation of Lighting Fixtures) Standards for the locations for the installation of lighting fixtures for preventing glare and light pollution caused by outdoor lighting fixtures, the angles of irradiation, the height of lamps, etc. shall be prescribed by rules.

Article 9 (Operation of Lamps) (1) Road lamps and security lights shall be switched on 30 minutes after sunset, and the time to switch off such lamps and lights shall be controlled comprehensively or individually 30 minutes before sunrise: Provided, That the managing authorities may adjust the time to switch on or off such lamps and lights, if it is anticipated that citizens' security is likely to be threatened due to fog, heavy rain, or any other change in weather conditions.
(2) The head of each public office building may independently determine the time to switch on or off wall lamps and lighting fixtures installed in its environs, taking into consideration night environments, security, etc.
(3) The Mayor may prescribe the time to switch on or off lighting fixtures installed for media-facade scenic lighting on walls built by pubic and private sectors and for scenic lighting on buildings, bridges, structures, etc. by rules.

Article 10 (Maintenance of Uniformity Ratio of Road Lighting) The Mayor shall endeavor to maintain a uniformity ratio of illuminance on roads for the maintenance of the comfortable environment for road traffic and the safety of drivers.

Article 11 (Guidance or Recommendation) The Mayor may guide or recommend lighting installers to install lighting fixtures in accordance with the standards for the upward luminous flux ratio and the luminance on a building surface for each lighting environment control area under Article 6 (3).

Article 12 (Supportive System) (1) The Mayor may render assistance when lighting facilities are rearranged in compliance with the provisions of this Ordinance.
(2) The Mayor may grant preferential subsidies for lighting facilities that have significant impacts on natural and residential environments in lighting environment control areas under Article 6.
(3) A person who intends to obtain assistance under paragraph (1) shall submit a project plan to the Mayor, including a lighting plan in which the standards for the permission of light radiation under Article 6 (3) shall be reflected.
(4) The Mayor may provide financial support to persons who carry out projects for the creation or rearrangement of night views under Article 13 (1) 3 of the Landscape Act and persons who create or rearrange a scenic lighting system under a contract for landscaping in accordance with Article 16 of the aforesaid Act.

Article 13 (Selection of Outstanding Scenic Lighting, etc.) (1) The Mayor may select and award outstanding scenic lighting works.
(2) Procedures, etc. for the selection and awarding of outstanding scenic lighting works shall be prescribed by rules.

ADDENDA <Ordinance No. 4990, Jul. 15, 2010>
(1) (Enforcement Date)
This Ordinance shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.
(2) (Transitional Measures)
Lighting fixtures already installed and in operation as at the enforcement date of this Ordinance shall be deemed to have been installed in accordance with this Ordinance.