This study collected and analyzed 223 South Korean ordinances supporting urban agriculture to understand its characteristics and propose institutional improvements. First, institutional support for urban agriculture in South Korea is governed primarily by the “Act on Development and Support of Urban Agriculture”, which consists of 130 direct support ordinances and 93 indirect support ordinances, indicating regional disparities. To enhance nationwide urban agriculture activation, expansion and revision of direct support ordinances are necessary. Second, these direct support ordinances adress areas such as administration, funding, technology, education, equipment, urban agriculture committees, and support centers. However, many ordinances lack explicit provisions, highlighting the need for revisions. Third, the indirect support ordinances primarily focus on agricultural and rural matters; and require diversification to promote the multifunctional aspects of urban agriculture. Fourth, relatively few ordinances address the foundation of urban agriculture, necessitating comprehensive reviews that include urban planning considerations. Fifth, urban agriculture is defined with an emphasis on agricultural and recreational aspects, suggesting the need for revisions to ensure smooth support. Sixth, discrepancies exist between the titles, objectives, and ordinance definitions related to urban agriculture, underscoring the importance of reflecting community restoration, nature-friendly practices, and eco-friendly/organic agricultural characteristics in the definition of urban agricul