South Korea
Local Autonomy Act
Act No. 17893 of 2021, eff. Jan. 13, 2022 (Jibang Jachi Beop); Art. 65 (open sessions), Art. 66 (closed sessions), Art. 71 (remote participation), Art. 73 (minutes)
Sunshine Score
| Advance Notice | 3 days, online posting required |
|---|---|
| Public Comment | Not required |
| Closed Sessions | 2 permitted categories |
| Minutes | Required, online posting required |
| Recording | Not required, broadcast required |
| Remote Participation | Allowed |
| Enforcement | Voidable, legislature exempt |
Agenda & Notice Requirements
Online posting: Required
Regular sessions (정례회) are held twice per year — typically in spring and fall — on a schedule set by each local assembly's bylaws or Enforcement Decree. Extraordinary sessions (임시회) require at least 3 days' advance notice to members before convening (Art. 45). The presiding officer (의장) gives notice. Specific agenda-posting requirements are set by each assembly's rules of procedure (의회 규칙).
Public Participation
The Local Autonomy Act does not establish a statutory right for members of the public to address council sessions. Public comment and participation procedures are governed by each local assembly's bylaws (의회 규칙) and may vary significantly by jurisdiction.
Virtual Meetings
Art. 71 of the 2022 revision permits member remote/video-conference participation under conditions specified in each assembly's bylaws (의회 규칙). Implementation details — including whether remote attendance counts toward quorum — are delegated to local assembly rules, resulting in variation across jurisdictions.
Closed Sessions
Closed (executive) sessions: Allowed under specific circumstances
Permitted Categories
Meeting Minutes
Online posting: Required
Content requirements: Meeting records (회의록) must be prepared under Art. 73 of the Act. Open session records are made publicly available; closed session records are restricted as determined by the presiding officer or assembly resolution. The National Assembly Act provisions on minutes do not apply.