Article 1 (Purpose)

Article 2 (Definitions) 1. “The vulnerable” are individuals or groups who have limited access to fair opportunities due to economic poverty or inherent physical, mental, social, economic, or technological factors, and thus require active consideration.
2. “Companionship with the vulnerable” refers to providing administrative and financial support so that the vulnerable can enjoy basic services or rights without discrimination in major areas of life such as livelihood, housing, education, medical care, and safety.

Article 3 (Duties of the Mayor) (1) The Seoul Metropolitan City Mayor (hereinafter referred to as the “Mayor”) shall endeavor to devise necessary measures to support the vulnerable, such as establishing policies for the vulnerable and securing financial resources to promote the policies.
(2) The Mayor shall actively cooperate with the central administrative agency (including its affiliated and subordinate organizations), autonomous Gus, domestic and foreign-related organizations, and other organizations to efficiently promote policies that are designed to promote companionship with the vulnerable.
(3) When establishing and promoting policies for companionship with the vulnerable, the Mayor must expand opportunities for citizen participation and actively reflect the opinions of citizens.
(4) When promoting policies for the companionship with the vulnerable, the Mayor must make an effort to ensure that the vulnerable do not feel socially marginalized in the use of terminology or in the process of providing administrative and financial support.

Article 4 (Support for Expenses and Entrustment of Work) (1) The Mayor may, within the scope of the budget, support all or part of the expenses necessary for the performance of related projects by institutions, organizations, non-profit corporations, etc., carrying out the companionship with the vulnerable projects. In such cases, the “Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on the Management of Local Subsidies” shall be followed.
(2) The Mayor may entrust the work to specialized corporations, organizations, etc. for the efficient promotion of projects related to the companionship with the vulnerable. In such cases, the “Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on Consigning the Administrative Work to the Private Sector” shall be followed.

Article 5 (Relationship with Other Acts, etc.) Except in cases where there are special legal provisions in Acts, Ordinances, etc., regarding the administrative and financial supports related to the companionship with the vulnerable, the provisions of this Ordinance shall apply.

Article 6 (Basic Plan, etc.) (1) In order to systematically and continuously promote the companionship with the vulnerable policies, the Mayor shall establish a basic plan on the companionship with the vulnerable (hereinafter referred to as the “basic plan”) every four (4) years.
(2) The basic plan shall include the following.
1. Basic direction and objectives of the policies
2. A system to promote companionship with the vulnerable
3. Key policies for each sector (i.e., livelihood, housing, medical/health, education/culture, safety, etc.)
4. Operation of indicators and indices on the companionship with the vulnerable
5. Fact-finding surveys and countermeasures on the companionship with the vulnerable
6. Comprehensive analysis, evaluation, and feedback on business performance of policies designed to promote companionship for the vulnerable
7. Matters related to education, promotion, events, etc. to foster companionship with the vulnerable
8. Other matters deemed necessary for policy promotion
(3) The Mayor shall establish an annual implementation plan linked to the basic plan to promote companionship for the vulnerable.

Article 7 (Fact-Finding Survey) (1) The Mayor may conduct a fact-finding survey to identify those who are vulnerable and to understand their needs and demands.
(2) The Mayor may analyze and evaluate the results of the fact-finding survey and reflect them in the basic and implementation plans.

Article 8 (Composition of the Committee on the Companionship with the Vulnerable, Etc.) (1) The Mayor may establish a Committee for the Companionship with the Vulnerable (hereinafter referred to as the “Committee”) to deliberate and advise on the following matters:
1. Matters concerning policy formulation promoting companionship with the vulnerable and integrated management and coordination of related projects
2. Setting priorities for various projects on the companionship with the vulnerable based on the relative importance and urgency
3. Providing policy advice and recommendations to foster the value of companionship with the vulnerable
4. Other matters concerning the establishment of key policies related to the companionship with the vulnerable, etc.
(2) The Committee shall be composed of no more than thirty-five (35) members, including two (2) Co-Chairpersons.
(3) The ex officio members of no more than ten (10) people will be nominated by the Mayor among the public officials at the director level or higher in charge of welfare, women, transportation, education, health, housing, finance, etc. of the City; the commissioned members shall be appointed by the Mayor from among those who fall under any one of the following categories while taking gender balance into consideration:
1. Professionals with extensive knowledge and experience in academia, industry, etc. in the field of assistance for the vulnerable
2. Members of the Seoul Metropolitan City Council that are recommended by the Seoul Metropolitan City Council
(4) The term of office of Commissioners shall be two (2) years, and they may serve up to two consecutive terms. However, the term of office of a member who is an ex officio member shall be the period of office held in that position; and the term of office of a supplementary member to fill a vacancy shall be the remaining period of the term of office of the predecessor member.
(5) The Co-Chairpersons shall be the Mayor, who is an ex-officio member, and a person selected by the Committee from among the commissioned members.
(6) The Committee is convened when the Co-Chairpersons deem it necessary.
(7) Meetings of the Committee shall be opened with the attendance of a majority of the registered members, and resolutions shall be made with the consent of a majority of the members present.
(8) Other matters necessary for the composition and operation of the Committee are prescribed by regulations.

Article 9 (Indices for the Companionship with the Vulnerable, Etc.) The Mayor may develop and manage indices (hereinafter referred to as “indices for the companionship with the vulnerable”) that can set goals for each field and comprehensively measure and manage performance.

Article 10 (Ensuring Policy Effectiveness) (1) The Mayor may reflect the perspective of the companionship with the vulnerable in the evaluation criteria when conducting an investment project pursuant to Article 37 of the “Local Finance Act.”
(2) The Mayor may evaluate the projects related to companionship with the vulnerable according to the indices for companionship with the vulnerable and reflect the results in financial management.

Article 11 (Designation of a Dedicated Organization) (1) The Mayor may designate a dedicated organization to efficiently carry out the following matters:
1. Reviewing and consulting on business plans related to assistance for the vulnerable
2. Management of statistics and indices for the companionship with the vulnerable
3. Policy support through research and investigation related to the companionship of the vulnerable
4. Conducting fact-finding surveys and research for the discovery of vulnerable persons pursuant to Article 7
5. Matters requested by the Committee and analyses for committee deliberation and advice, etc.
(2) The dedicated organization pursuant to Article 1 shall be an organization that meets the following requisites.
1. A capital-invested or funded organization in accordance with the Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on the Operation of Agencies Invested or Funded by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, or a foundation established under the Civil Act.
2. An organization specializing in conducting research on policies set forth by the Seoul Metropolitan Government

Article 12 (Education and Public Relations) The Mayor may conduct education and publicity activities to foster the value of companionship with the vulnerable.

Article 13 (Awards) The Mayor may award public officials, individuals, or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to promoting companionship with the vulnerable in accordance with the “Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on Commendations.”

Article 14 (Enforcement Rule) Matters necessary for the enforcement of this Ordinance shall be prescribed by regulations.

Addendum <No. 9072, Dec. 29, 2023>
This Ordinance shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.