Article 1 (Purpose) The purpose of this Ordinance shall be to contribute the encouragement of citizens' voluntary cultural activities, improvement of the citizens' quality of live and the realization of the city of culture by stipulating matters concerning projects and support necessary for the revitalization of the living culture under the Regional Culture Promotion Act. <Amended on Apr. 28, 2022>

Article 2 (Definitions) The terms used in this Ordinance are defined as follows: <Amended on Apr. 28, 2022>
1. The term "living culture" refers to tangible and intangible cultural activities which residents of a region voluntarily or routinely participate in and perform to meet their cultural needs;
2. The term "living culture organization" refers to organizations performing tangible and intangible cultural activities, as persons who do not fall under subparagraph 2 of Article 2 of the Artist Welfare Act gather together or form clubs and voluntarily or routinely participate and perform to meet their cultural needs;
3. The term "club" refers to gatherings of persons who continue to participate in living culture activities;
4. Other terms shall be governed by Article 2 of the Regional Culture Promotion Act.

Article 3 (Relation with Other Ordinances) The enforcement of the policy for the promotion of the living culture shall be governed by this Ordinance, unless stipulated otherwise by other ordinances.

Article 4 (Duties of the Mayor) The Mayor of Seoul Metropolitan City (hereinafter referred to as the "Mayor") shall endeavor to establish a policy for the promotion of the living culture, increase opportunities to enjoy living culture and encourage activities therefor so that each and every citizen can enjoy living culture. <Amended on May 18, 2017; Apr. 28, 2022>

Article 5 (Formulation of a Master Plan) (1) The Mayor shall formulate and implement a master plan for the promotion of the living culture (hereinafter referred to as the "Master Plan"). In such cases, the Mayor may formulate the Master Plan included in the comprehensive cultural city plan of Seoul Metropolitan City under Article 13(1) of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Framework Ordinance on Cultural City. <Amended on Sep. 21, 2017; Mar. 28, 2019>
(2) The Master Plan shall include the following:
1. Matters concerning a basic direction of the policy for the promotion of the living culture;
2. Matters concerning the establishment, operation, etc. of a living culture support group and living culture facilities;
3. Expansion of and support for living culture facilities;
4. Training of experts to improve the competence of living culture activities;
5. Matters concerning the budget and support required to implement the Master Plan; and
6. Other projects that the Mayor recognizes as necessary.

Article 6 (Support for Living Culture Projects) (1) The Mayor may implement the following projects to promote the living culture:
1. Projects that promote the network among living culture facilities, clubs, and experts;
2. Matters concerning the organization and operation of the living culture coordination committee;
3. Finding and diffusion of best practices of living culture activities;
4. Provision of opportunities for social contribution for living culture organizations, clubs, etc.; and
5. Other projects recognized as necessary for the promotion of the living culture.
(2) An operator of living culture facilities installed by Seoul Metropolitan City and autonomous Gus may provide spaces for living culture activities for living culture organizations, clubs, etc., unless causing inconvenience in the operation of such facilities.
(3) Where an operator of public facilities or cultural facilities established by a private sector, such as individuals, businesses, etc. provides living culture organizations, clubs, etc. with spaces for living culture activities, the Mayor may support expenses therefor within a budgetary limit.
(4) The Mayor may consign autonomous Gus with part of the projects under each subparagraph of paragraph (1) and paragraph (3).

Article 6-2 (Preferential Support to Regions with Disadvantageous Cultural Environment) (1) The Mayor shall devise support and policies necessary for the following regions with disadvantageous cultural environment to secure balanced development of regional cultures: <Amended on Oct. 5, 2020>
1. A region having a wide cultural gap with other regions based on the findings of the survey on regional culture;
2. A region having a relatively large number of culturally disadvantageous residents compared to other regions; or
3. Other regions that the Mayor recognizes that a cultural gap shall be narrowed and a cultural environment shall be improved.
(2) The Mayor may conduct a survey of regional culture to find methods for support to regions with disadvantageous cultural environment under paragraph (1) above.
(3) The Mayor may reflect residents' opinions in prioritizing the support to guarantee that residents in regions with disadvantageous cultural environment shall have opportunities to enjoy culture and arts.
[This Article Newly Inserted on May 18, 2017]

Article 6-3 (Expansion and Support for Living Culture Facilities) (1) The Mayor may establish and operate living culture facilities to support residents' living culture activities.
(2) The Mayor may provide, within a budgetary limit, expenses necessary to establish and operate living culture facilities and promote projects.
(3) The Mayor may change the use of unused space owned by the Seoul Metropolitan City into living culture facilities as stipulated by the Public Property and Commodity Management Act and have residents utilize them.
(4) Where a person who intends to establish and operate living culture facilities applies to use an unused space under paragraph (3) above, the Mayor may have the person use the unused space without charge; Provided, That the Mayor may restrict or disallow long-term use or exclusive use.
(5) In the following cases, the Mayor may restrict, revoke, or suspend the use of living culture facilities by a person who intends to establish and operate them under paragraph (4) above:
1. Where it is apprehended to harm public order and traditional custom;
2. Where the management and preservation of the facilities are disrupted;
3. Where conditions for use are violated;
4. Where they are used for profit; or
5. Where it is required for the safety and efficient operation of facilities.
(6) The Mayor shall not be held liable for damage of users caused by revocation or suspension of use under paragraph (5) above.
[This Article Newly Inserted on May 18, 2017]

Article 7 (Establishment, Operation, etc. of Support Groups) (1) The Mayor may establish and operate the Seoul Metropolitan Government Living Culture Support Group (hereinafter referred to as the "Support Group") to implement tasks that fall under any of the subparagraphs of paragraph (2) below: <Amended on Apr. 28, 2022>
(2) The Support Group shall perform the following:
1. Implementation and evaluation of projects that promote the living culture;
2. Holding of festivals and international exchanges for the living culture;
3. Development and dissemination of basic investigation, research, and programs for the promotion of the living culture;
4. Training and support for experts in the living culture;
5. Development of network and database for living culture organizations, clubs, etc.;
6. Education, public relation, dissemination, etc. for the promotion of the living culture; and
7. Other projects that the Mayor recognizes as necessary for the promotion of the living culture.

Article 8 (Establishment, Operation, etc. of Centers) (1) The Mayor may establish and operate the Seoul Metropolitan Government Living Culture Support Center (hereinafter referred to as the "Center") to efficiently implement tasks that fall under any of the subparagraphs of paragraph (2) below:
(2) The Center shall perform the following:
1. Building and operation of cultural space for cultural enjoyment, experience activity, exhibition, performance, etc.;
2. Support for the organization and operation of associations to create an autonomous activity environment of living culture organizations, clubs, etc.;
3. Support for instructors, equipment, devices, etc. for the invigoration of living culture programs;
4. Projects that contribute to the development of local culture and arts; and
5. Other projects that the Mayor recognizes as necessary for the promotion of the living culture.

Article 9 (Budget Support) The Mayor may support, within a budgetary limit, all or part of the project expenses necessary for the Support Group or the Center.

Article 10 (Committee) (1) The Mayor may establish the Seoul Metropolitan Government Living Culture Coordination Committee (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee") to deliberate the following in relation to the operation of the Support Group and the Center:
1. Matters concerning the annual project plan, budget, settlement thereof, etc. of the Support Group;
2. Matters concerning the development, promotion, etc. of living culture projects;
3. Matters concerning the selection of preferential recipients of living culture; and
4. Other matters recognized as necessary for operation of the Support Group and the Center.
(2) The Committee shall comprise not more than 15 members, including 1 chairperson and 1 vice-chairperson. The Mayor shall appoint or commission members from among the members of the standing committee of the Seoul Metropolitan Council or people with sufficient knowledge or experience in living culture and business management; Provided, That the number of members who are public officials shall not exceed 1/4 of the total number of members. <Amended on May 18, 2017>
(3) A chairperson and a vice-chairperson of the Committee shall be elected from among members.
(4) A term of office of members shall be 2 years and a term of office of supplementary members shall be the remaining term of office of his/her predecessor; Provided, That a term of office of members who are public officials shall be the period during which they hold their post.
(5) Other matters necessary for the operation of the Committee shall be stipulated as rules.

Article 11 (Consignment of Management and Operation) (1) The Mayor may consign living culture-related nonprofit corporations and organizations with all or part of the management and operation of the Center.
(2) Matters concerning the selection and revocation of recipients shall be governed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on the Private Consignment of Administrative Affairs.

Article 12 (Inspection, Reporting, etc.) (1) The Mayor may be reported with matters necessary for tasks of the Support Group and the Center and have public officials inspect the same.
(2) The Mayor may take measures against violation of laws, poor management, etc. found in inspections, if any.

Article 13 (Enforcement Rules) Matters required to enforce this Ordinance shall be prescribed as rules.

Addenda <Ordinance No. 6369, Jan. 5, 2017>
This Ordinance shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.
Addenda <Ordinance No. 6498, May 18, 2017>
This Ordinance shall enter into force on the date 3 months after its promulgation.
Addenda <Ordinance No. 6620, Sep. 21, 2017> (Seoul Metropolitan Government Framework Ordinance on Culture City)
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Ordinance shall enter into force on Nov. 19, 2017; Provided, That Articles 1 to 5 and Articles 2 and 3 of the Addenda shall enter into force on the date of their promulgation.
Articles 2 and 3 Omitted
Article 4 (Revision of Other Ordinances)
(1) and (2) omitted
(3) In Article 5(1) of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on the Promotion of Living Culture, the terms "Article 11(1) of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Framework Ordinance on Culture City" and "culture city comprehensive plan" shall be revised to "Article 13(1) of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Framework Ordinance on Culture City" and "comprehensive culture city plan," respectively.
(4) through (6) omitted
Addenda (Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on the Comprehensive Reorganization of Word Spacing) <Ordinance No. 7046, Mar. 28, 2019>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Ordinance shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.
Article 2 (Revision of Other Ordinances)
(1) through (7) omitted
(8) The Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on the Promotion of Living Culture shall be revised as follows:
In the latter part of Article 5(1), the term "Seoul Metropolitan Government Framework Ordinance on Culture City" shall be revised to "Seoul Metropolitan Government Framework Ordinance on Culture City".
(9) through <57> omitted
Addenda <Ordinance No. 7721, Oct. 5, 2020>
This Ordinance shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.
Addenda <Ordinance No. 8413, Apr. 28, 2022>
This Ordinance shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.