한국법제연구원 KLRI

Ⅰ. Background and Purpose

  ○ The study was carried out as part of the Korea Legislation Research Institute’s legal exchange support project. One of the aims of the project is to support overseas research and education on Korean laws. 

  ○ Korea’s civil registration and vital statistics systems are world-widely recognized as an exemplary model, and a number of literature have introduced and reviewed key features of and a series of stages of the development of the Korean system. However, Korea’s legal and regulatory framework for the civil registration and vital statistics systems, considered to be as one of the critical success factors, has not been introduced in such a manner.

  ○ Therefore, the purpose of this study is to provide a brief overview of historical development of the Korean laws on the civil registration and vital statistics systems for sharing Korea’s legislative experience. 

 

Ⅱ. Major Content 

  ○ Importance, Current Status, and Strengthening of the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics

    - Overviews the importance of the civil registration and vital statistics systems and the needs for improvement of the systems 

  ○ Overview of the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Systems of Korea

    - Describes the basic governance structure of the Korean civil registration and vital statistics systems and how they work in practice 

  ○ Legal Framework for the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Systems of Korea

    - Briefly introduces Korea’s statutory instruments for the civil registration and vital statistics systems and overviews historical development of the two important laws, i.e., the Act on Registration of Family Relations and the Resident Registration Act.  

  ○ Evaluation of the Korean Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Laws

    - Examines the principles and recommendations for the civil registration and vital statistics laws suggested by the United Nation and evaluates the Korean laws in light of such principles and recommendations 

 

Ⅲ. Expected Effects

  ○ This study may serve as a brief introduction of Korea’s statutory instruments on the civil registration and vital statistics

  ○ This study may serve as a guide to the legislative history of Korea’s main civil registration and vital statistics laws

Ⅰ Introduction / 9

 

Ⅱ Importance, Current Status, and Strengthening of CRVS / 13

 

Ⅲ Overview of the CRVS Systems of Korea  / 21

  1. Governance Structure of the Korean CRVS Systems 23

  2. How the Korean CRVS Systems Work 25

 

Ⅳ Legal Framework for the CRVS Systems of Korea / 29

  1. The CRVS Laws of Korea 31

  2. Historical Development of the Act on Registration of Family Relations 32

    (1) The Family Register Act: Major Amendments 33

    (2) The Act on Registration of Family Relations: Major Amendments 35

  3. Historical Development of the Resident Registration Act 37

  4. Concluding Observations 41

 

Ⅴ Evaluation of the Korean CRVS Laws / 43

  1. UN Principles and Recommendations for CRVS Laws 45

  2. The Korean CRVS Laws: In Comparison with UN Principles and Recommendations 50

 

Ⅵ Conclusion / 67

 

References 71

 

Appendix 79

  1. Act on Registration of Family Relations 81

  2. Resident Registration Act 123