Recently, concerns have arisen about cultural heritage items being lost due to littering or throwing filth on famous cultural heritage items and historic sites, etc., and relevant protective measures are necessary.

However, current law lacks direct provisions on littering or throwing filth on cultural heritage protection zones. Only the Punishment of Minor Offenses Act provides a statutory fine of up to ten thousand Korean won, which is under criticism.

Since a prohibition on littering and throwing filth on a cultural heritage protection zone is not merely a matter of environment protection but aims to protect the cultural heritage item and site, it should be regulated under this Act.

Therefore, this proposal seeks to strengthen the regulation on cultural heritage protection by prohibiting any person from littering or throwing filth on designated/registered cultural heritage items and sites and in the protection zones, and by imposing up to two years imprisonment or up to twenty million won in statutory fine in cases of contraventions (Newly insert Article 21-2, etc.).

Article 21-2 (Prohibited Acts) No person shall litter or throw waste on designated/registered cultural heritage items and sites and in cultural heritage protection facility/zone, thereby resulting in damage of such cultural heritage item and site.
Article 101 (Crime of interfering with management activities, etc.) Any person under the following paragraphs will be subject to imprisonment of up to two years or statutory fine of up to twenty million Korean won.
1-2. Any person who damages a cultural heritage item and/or site by littering or throwing filth in contravention of Article 21-2.