With the rise in global climate change awareness and environmental protection consciousness, South Korea has carved out a distinctive path to sustainable development through systematic environmental legislation and green growth strategy implementation. This article thoroughly analyzes South Korea’s Basic Environmental Policy Act and its supporting policy system, providing strategic reference for Chinese enterprises entering the Korean market.

Evolution of South Korea’s Basic Environmental Policy Act

1.1 Historical Development of Environmental Legislation

South Korea’s environmental legislation has evolved from pollution prevention to comprehensive environmental protection. In the 1960s, as industrialization accelerated and environmental pollution became increasingly prominent, the Korean government promulgated its first environmental legislation, the “Pollution Prevention Act,” in 1963. This law primarily targeted industrial pollution control and laid the initial legal foundation for environmental protection in South Korea.

Entering the 1970s, South Korea began to emphasize systematic environmental protection. The “Environmental Conservation Act” was established in 1977, elevating environmental protection to a national basic policy. This law broke through the simple pollution prevention approach and established the principle of prevention-first and integrated prevention and control for environmental protection. In 1980, South Korea amended its constitution, incorporating environmental rights as one of the fundamental rights of citizens.

1990 marked a significant turning point in South Korean environmental legislation. That year, South Korea established the “Basic Environmental Policy Act,” establishing the basic concepts, principles, and institutional framework for environmental protection. The promulgation of this law marked a new development stage in South Korean environmental law, shifting environmental protection from end-of-pipe treatment to whole-process control.

1.2 Core Architecture of the Basic Law

The “Basic Environmental Policy Act” established the top-level design for environmental protection in South Korea. The law consists of 6 chapters and 52 articles, covering general provisions, basic environmental protection plans, environmental standards, environmental impact assessment, economic measures, and supplementary provisions. Its most distinctive feature is the establishment of basic principles including sustainable development, prevention-first, polluter responsibility, and environmental rights.

The law clearly stipulates the environmental protection responsibilities of government and local autonomous bodies, requiring the formulation of national environmental protection basic plans and local environmental protection plans. It also established the Environmental Protection Committee as the highest decision-making advisory body responsible for reviewing major environmental policies. The law also stipulates procedures for establishing and revising environmental standards, providing basic criteria for environmental quality management.

1.3 Development Process of the Legal System

Under the basic law framework, South Korea gradually established a complete environmental legal system. In the 1990s, specialized laws such as the “Clean Air Conservation Act,” “Water Quality Conservation Act,” and “Noise and Vibration Control Act” were successively established. The “Wetland Conservation Act” was established in 1999, and the “Soil Environment Conservation Act” in 2003, continuously expanding the scope of environmental protection.

After South Korea proposed its “Low Carbon Green Growth” national strategy in 2008, environmental legislation entered a new phase. The “Framework Act on Low Carbon Green Growth” was established in 2010, incorporating climate change response and green industry development into the legal framework. The “Act on the Allocation and Trading of Greenhouse Gas Emission Permits” was established in 2012, establishing a carbon emission trading system. In 2016, the “Environmental Technology and Environmental Industry Support Act” was revised to increase support for the environmental protection industry.

1.4 Organizational Guarantee for Policy Implementation

South Korea has established an environmental management system centered on the Ministry of Environment. The Ministry includes institutions such as the Environmental Policy Office, Nature Conservation Bureau, and Water Environment Policy Bureau, responsible for environmental policy formulation and implementation supervision. The National Institute of Environmental Research undertakes environmental monitoring and research work, while the Korea Environment Corporation is responsible for environmental infrastructure construction and operation.

At the local level, there are Environmental Management Offices and Environmental Branch Offices responsible for environmental law enforcement and supervision in their regions. Environmental Impact Assessment Committees are established at various government levels to conduct environmental reviews of construction projects. The Environmental Protection Committee, as the highest decision-making advisory body, consists of government department representatives, experts, scholars, and representatives from various sectors of society, ensuring the scientific and democratic nature of environmental decisions.

Main Contents of Environmental Management Systems

2.1 Environmental Impact Assessment System

Since its establishment in 1977, South Korea’s environmental impact assessment system has undergone multiple important revisions and improvements. Environmental impact assessment was first incorporated into the “Environmental Conservation Act” in 1981, followed by the establishment of the independent “Environmental Impact Assessment Act” in 1993, and a comprehensive revision in 2012, forming the current relatively complete assessment system. The assessment covers 77 types of projects across 17 fields including urban development, industrial park construction, energy development, transportation facilities, and river management, serving as an important foundational system for environmental management in South Korea.

According to the latest revised regulatory requirements, the environmental impact assessment procedure is divided into four main stages. The first stage is scope definition, where development units must prepare a preliminary environmental impact assessment report to clarify project characteristics, potential environmental impacts, and key assessment content. The second stage is assessment report preparation, which must comprehensively evaluate environmental impacts during project construction and operation periods, including aspects such as atmospheric environment, water environment, soil environment, natural ecology, acoustic environment, vibration, landscape, and propose corresponding prevention and mitigation measures.

The third stage is expert review, where the Environmental Impact Assessment Committee organizes experts for technical review. The committee consists of 15-20 members including government department representatives, environmental experts, and legal experts, ensuring the scientific nature and fairness of the assessment. The fourth stage is approval decision-making, where the Ministry of Environment makes approval decisions based on review results and provides relevant requirements and recommendations. 2023 data shows that approximately 800-1,000 projects require environmental impact assessment annually in South Korea, with an average review period of 6-8 months and an approval rate of about 85%.

2.2 Pollution Permit Management System

South Korea implements a strict pollution permit system, requiring enterprises that discharge pollutants to obtain pollution permits through laws such as the “Clean Air Conservation Act,” “Water Quality Conservation Act,” and “Soil Environment Conservation Act.” Currently, 41 major categories of industries are included in the permit management system, covering approximately 52,000 enterprises. Permit management is divided into three levels: comprehensive permits, simplified permits, and registration management.

Comprehensive permits apply to large pollution sources, requiring enterprises to adopt Best Available Technology (BAT) and develop detailed pollution prevention and control plans. Simplified permits apply to medium-sized pollution sources, focusing on controlling major pollutants. Registration management applies to small pollution sources, requiring only basic information filing. Enterprises must install automatic monitoring equipment connected to environmental departments for real-time monitoring of pollutant discharge. As of 2024, 92% of key pollution sources have installed online monitoring systems.

Permits are valid for 5 years and must be reapplied upon expiration. Enterprises must regularly report pollutant discharge conditions and accept environmental department inspections. Violations in discharge will result in penalties such as permit revocation and production suspension for rectification. In 2023, South Korea revoked or suspended pollution permits for 237 enterprises, with penalties totaling 350 million Korean won.

2.3 Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement Mechanism

South Korea has established a comprehensive environmental monitoring network, including national and local environmental monitoring networks. The national monitoring network is directly managed by the Ministry of Environment, comprising specialized monitoring networks for air quality, water quality, soil, and other aspects. There are 525 air quality monitoring stations, 2,100 water quality monitoring stations, and 300 soil monitoring points nationwide, forming a monitoring system covering the entire territory.

Monitoring data is transmitted and shared in real-time through the environmental information management system, providing scientific basis for environmental management decisions. In 2023, South Korea’s environmental monitoring system collected and processed over 280 million data points, achieving a monitoring accuracy rate of 98.5%. The local monitoring network is managed by various local governments, mainly monitoring local environmental quality and pollution sources, complementing the national monitoring network.

Enforcement adopts a hierarchical management model. The Ministry of Environment is responsible for investigating major cases and cross-regional pollution control, while local environmental management offices handle routine law enforcement inspections. Enforcement methods include regular patrols, surprise inspections, online monitoring, and complaint investigation. Severe penalties are imposed for violations, with maximum penalties of 5 years imprisonment or 100 million Korean won in fines. In 2023, 18,000 environmental violation cases were investigated, with penalties totaling 230 million Korean won.

2.4 Environmental Information Disclosure System

South Korea highly values environmental information disclosure, considering it an important means of protecting public environmental rights. In 2007, the comprehensive Environmental Information Publication System (EIPS) was established to provide the public with various environmental data including environmental quality, pollution sources, permits, and penalty information. Enterprises must regularly publish pollutant discharge data, and key enterprises must also issue environmental reports for social supervision.

The scope of environmental information disclosure continues to expand. Besides basic environmental data, it includes environmental impact assessment documents, pollution permit information, and environmental enforcement records. In 2023, the environmental information disclosure system recorded over 5 million data entries with 12 million visits. The public can access environmental information through websites, mobile apps, and other channels, and submit environmental complaints. In 2023, 75,000 environmental complaints were received and processed, with a satisfaction rate of 85%.

To improve information disclosure effectiveness, South Korea has also established environmental information analysis and early warning mechanisms. Through big data analysis, environmental risks are predicted and warned. A key pollution source online monitoring platform has been established to achieve real-time disclosure of pollutant discharge data. An environmental geographic information system has been developed to visually display environmental quality spatial distribution. These measures have effectively enhanced environmental information transparency and promoted public participation in environmental protection.

After years of development, South Korea’s environmental management system has formed a relatively complete framework. Environmental impact assessment ensures the environmental safety of development and construction activities, pollution permit management achieves effective control of pollution sources, environmental monitoring and enforcement ensure the implementation of various requirements, and environmental information disclosure promotes social co-governance. The coordinated operation of these systems provides institutional guarantee for improving South Korea’s environmental quality.

In 2024, South Korea continues to deepen environmental management system reform, focusing on smart environmental protection construction. Using IoT, big data, artificial intelligence, and other technologies to enhance the scientific nature and efficiency of environmental management. Strengthening environmental credit system construction, linking enterprise environmental performance with financial and tax policies. Improving public participation mechanisms to promote modernization of environmental governance systems and capabilities. These measures will further enhance South Korea’s environmental management level and promote green low-carbon development.

Key Areas of Green Growth Strategy

3.1 New Energy Industry Development Plan

The Korean government released its “2050 Carbon Neutrality Strategy” in 2020 and formulated the “New Energy Industry Development Roadmap” in 2021, clarifying the direction for new energy industry development over the next 30 years. According to the plan, South Korea will vigorously develop renewable energy, increasing the proportion of renewable energy power generation to 20% by 2030 and over 70% by 2050. Focus will be placed on developing clean energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydrogen energy, while accelerating the digital transformation of energy systems.

In the solar energy sector, South Korea plans to add 27.8GW of new installed capacity by 2025. The government launched the “Rooftop Solar Plan,” providing up to 70% subsidies for residents installing photovoltaic systems. Distributed photovoltaic power generation is being promoted in industrial parks, building photovoltaic industry clusters. In 2023, South Korea’s solar power generation reached 24.2TWh, an 18.5% year-on-year increase. Companies like Hanwha and LG have strong competitiveness in efficient photovoltaic cell and module manufacturing.

Wind power focuses mainly on offshore wind, planning to reach 12GW installed capacity by 2030. Construction is underway on the world’s largest offshore wind project group, the Gunsan Offshore Wind Farm, with an installed capacity of 2.46GW. The development of domestic wind power equipment manufacturing industry is being promoted to cultivate a complete industry chain. In 2023, wind power generation reached 15.8TWh, accounting for 28.6% of renewable energy power generation.

Hydrogen energy has been designated as a future strategic industry by South Korea. Plans include building 1,200 hydrogen refueling stations and achieving 2.9 million hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by 2040. Hyundai Motor leads globally in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, with sales reaching 15,000 units in 2023. Meanwhile, development of the entire hydrogen energy industry chain including production, storage, transportation, and application is accelerating, with the hydrogen energy industry’s total output reaching 15.7 trillion won in 2023.

3.2 Circular Economy Promotion Policies

South Korea released its “Circular Economy Transformation Roadmap” in 2018, setting a target of 82% resource recycling rate by 2030. Implementing strict packaging material management systems and extended producer responsibility. In 2023, packaging waste recycling rate reached 85.6%, and recyclable material resource utilization rate reached 76.8%.

Clean production is promoted in the industrial sector, building eco-industrial parks. Currently, 15 national-level eco-industrial parks have been established, where enterprises achieve resource recycling through waste exchange and energy cascade utilization. In 2023, eco-industrial parks achieved industrial solid waste resource utilization of 21.8 million tons, saving costs of approximately 1.8 trillion won.

Urban household waste is subject to strict classification and charging systems. “Smart waste sorting systems” are promoted, using RFID technology to track waste flow. Waste incineration power plants are being constructed to improve waste resource utilization. In 2023, urban household waste recycling rate reached 86.3%, and incineration power generation reached 3.85 billion kWh.

Electronic waste recycling and treatment is strengthened. A nationwide recycling network has been established, implementing incentive measures such as “trade-in” programs. In 2023, electronic waste recycling volume reached 386,000 tons, with recycled resource value of approximately 1.2 trillion won. Companies like Samsung and LG have established complete product recycling systems.

3.3 Cleaner Production Support System

Korea has established a comprehensive cleaner production support policy system, including technical support, financial assistance, and talent development. In 2020, the Clean Production Promotion Act was revised to increase support for enterprise cleaner production transformation. Clean Production Technology Centers were established to provide technical consulting and services to enterprises.

The implementation of cleaner production demonstration projects focuses on supporting energy conservation and emission reduction in energy-intensive industries such as steel, chemical, and paper. In 2023, 1,260 enterprises were supported in implementing cleaner production projects, with total investments reaching 2.3 trillion won. Through technical transformation, average energy savings reached 15.8%, and emission reduction reached 23.5%.

The clean production management system certification is promoted as an important basis for enterprises to enjoy preferential policies. By the end of 2023, 3,850 enterprises had obtained clean production certification. A clean production expert database was established to provide training and guidance for enterprises. In 2023, 15,000 clean production management personnel received training.

3.4 Green Technology Innovation Incentives

Korea places high importance on green technology innovation, considering it the core driver for achieving sustainable development. In 2021, the “Green Technology Innovation Strategy” was released, identifying 10 key areas including new energy, energy conservation and environmental protection, and ecological restoration. A special fund for green technology R&D was established, with investments reaching 3.2 trillion won in 2023.

An industry-academia-research collaborative innovation mechanism was established to support the construction of green technology research centers. Currently, 35 national-level green technology research centers have been established, achieving important breakthroughs in new energy vehicles, energy storage systems, and environmental protection materials. In 2023, 15,800 green technology-related patents were filed, ranking fourth globally.

A green technology commercialization support program was implemented to help transform research achievements into market products. A green technology venture capital fund was established, supporting 320 innovative projects in 2023 with total investments of 1.8 trillion won. A number of internationally competitive green technology enterprises have been cultivated.

Korea’s green growth strategy has achieved significant results in promoting industrial structure green transformation through measures such as new energy development, circular economy advancement, cleaner production support, and technology innovation incentives. In 2023, Korea’s green industry total output reached 96.5 trillion won, accounting for 4.8% of GDP. Green employment positions reached 680,000, a 35% increase from 2020.

In 2024, Korea further increased efforts in implementing its green growth strategy. This includes accelerating energy structure adjustment, advancing the “Renewable Energy 3020 Plan,” deepening circular economy transformation, implementing the “Zero Waste Landfill” strategy, strengthening cleaner production support, promoting low-carbon technology application, increasing green technology innovation investment, and cultivating new economic growth points. These measures will lay a solid foundation for Korea to achieve its 2050 carbon neutrality goal.

Environmental Economic Policy Tool Innovation

4.1 Environmental Tax and Fee System Design

Korea’s environmental tax and fee system has undergone long-term evolution and improvement, forming a multi-level environmental tax and fee system centered on carbon tax and covering pollution fees and environmental improvement charges. After implementing the “Low Carbon Green Growth Basic Law” in 2010, the environmental tax and fee system entered a new phase. In 2020, the environmental tax law was revised to further optimize the tax and fee structure and improve collection efficiency.

Carbon tax is an important component of Korea’s environmental taxes and fees. Carbon tax collection began in 2015, with an initial rate of 20 won per ton of CO2 equivalent emissions, increasing annually. In 2023, the carbon tax rate reached 36 won per ton, with total collection reaching 2.8 trillion won. Differentiated tax rates are applied to energy-intensive industries to promote industrial structure adjustment.

Pollution fees are collected for air pollutant and water pollutant emissions. Using a progressive collection system for excess emissions, in 2023, wastewater pollution fees reached 1.2 trillion won, and air pollutant fees reached 0.9 trillion won. Special funds were established for pollution control and ecological restoration, achieving significant results.

Environmental improvement charges are mainly collected from development and construction projects. In 2023, collection amounts reached 1.5 trillion won, primarily supporting ecological compensation and environmental infrastructure construction. Differentiated collection policies are implemented, providing reduction benefits for projects using environmental protection technologies.

4.2 Emissions Trading Market Construction

Korea is the first Asian country to establish a national-level greenhouse gas emissions trading system. The carbon emissions trading market was launched in 2015, covering over 600 key emitting enterprises nationwide. After years of development, the trading system has continuously improved, and market liquidity has steadily increased.

The trading market adopts a combination of quota allocation and auction methods. The third phase (2021-2025) increased the auction ratio to 10%. In 2023, the total quota was 590 million tons, with actual trading volume reaching 120 million tons and trading value exceeding 3.5 trillion won. Carbon prices rose from an initial 8,000 won per ton to around 28,000 won in 2024.

A comprehensive market supervision mechanism has been established. A carbon credit certification committee was established to regulate carbon credit evaluation and trading. Third-party verification institutions were introduced to ensure emission data accuracy and reliability. In 2023, 85 market violation cases were processed, with fines totaling 120 million won.

Carbon finance innovation development is promoted. Financial institutions are allowed to participate in carbon trading and develop derivative products such as carbon futures and carbon bonds. By the end of 2023, carbon financial product trading volume reached 850 billion won. Professional carbon asset management institutions were cultivated to provide consulting services.

4.3 Green Finance Support Policies

Korea actively develops green finance and constructs a multi-level green finance policy support system. The “Green Finance Promotion Plan” was released in 2021, setting a target for green credit to reach 10% of GDP by 2025. The Bank of Korea incorporated green factors into its monetary policy framework.

Green investment funds were established, focusing on supporting clean energy and energy conservation areas. In 2023, the national green investment fund reached 5 trillion won, leveraging 15 trillion won in social capital. Green credit preferential policies were implemented, providing loan interest rate benefits for qualifying green projects.

The green bond market has been vigorously developed. In 2023, green bond issuance reached 12 trillion won, a 45% year-on-year increase. A green bond evaluation and certification system was established to ensure raised funds are used for environmental protection projects. The insurance industry was encouraged to develop green insurance products to diversify environmental risks.

Environmental information disclosure systems were improved. Listed companies are required to disclose Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) information. A green rating system was established, incorporating environmental risks into credit ratings. By 2023, 850 companies were subject to mandatory environmental information disclosure.

4.4 Environmental Protection Industry Cultivation Measures

Korea has prioritized the environmental protection industry as a strategic emerging industry. The “Environmental Protection Industry Development Strategy” was released in 2020, setting the goal of building a global environmental protection industry powerhouse. Through policy guidance and market cultivation, the environmental protection industry has achieved rapid development.

An environmental protection technology R&D support plan was implemented. The Environmental Protection Industry Technology Research Institute was established to conduct key technology research. In 2023, environmental protection technology R&D investment reached 2.8 trillion won, focusing on breakthrough core technologies in pollution control and resource recycling. Technology-based environmental protection enterprises were cultivated, supporting industry-academia-research cooperation.

The environmental protection equipment manufacturing industry development was promoted. Enterprises were supported in developing advanced environmental protection equipment to enhance product competitiveness. In 2023, the environmental protection equipment manufacturing industry output reached 28.5 trillion won, with exports exceeding 5 billion USD. Focus was placed on developing air purification, water treatment, and solid waste treatment equipment manufacturing.

Environmental protection service industry development was strengthened. Professional service institutions for third-party treatment, environmental consulting, and environmental monitoring were cultivated. In 2023, the environmental protection service industry revenue reached 15.6 trillion won, with over 200,000 employees. Traditional environmental protection enterprises were encouraged to transform into comprehensive service providers.

Environmental protection industry parks were constructed. Twelve environmental protection industry parks were built nationwide, forming industry clusters. Support for land, funding, and talent was provided. In 2023, environmental protection industry parks’ total output reached 42.3 trillion won, driving employment of 158,000 people.

Korea’s environmental economic policy tool innovation has shown significant results. In 2023, environmental tax and fee revenue reached 2.8% of GDP, and carbon market trading volume ranked among the top in Asia. Green finance supported the real economy’s transition and development, and the environmental protection industry became a new economic growth point. In 2024, environmental economic policies are expected to be further improved, with increased support to promote economic and social green transformation.

Environmental tax and fee revenue is primarily used for pollution control and ecological protection. In 2023, environmental governance funding reached 8.5 trillion won, achieving notable improvements in air quality and water environment. The carbon market promoted enterprise emission reduction, with quota enterprises’ carbon emission intensity decreasing by 12.5% in 2023. Green finance supported key areas such as clean energy and energy conservation, driving related industry investments exceeding 25 trillion won. The environmental protection industry’s total output reached 85.6 trillion won, becoming an important component of the national economy.

The implementation of these innovative policy tools has provided strong support for Korea’s “2050 carbon neutrality” goal. It also provides valuable reference for other countries in environmental economic policy innovation. In the future, Korea will continue to deepen policy innovation and construct a more comprehensive environmental economic policy system.

Regional Environmental Cooperation and International Integration

5.1 Multilateral Environmental Agreement Compliance

As a responsible member of the international community, Korea actively participates in and seriously implements multilateral environmental agreements. As of 2024, Korea has joined over 60 international environmental conventions, including the Paris Agreement, Convention on Biological Diversity, and Montreal Protocol.

In the climate change field, Korea submitted an updated Nationally Determined Contribution to the United Nations in 2020, committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% compared to the baseline scenario by 2030, and formulated a long-term strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. In 2023, greenhouse gas emissions were 652 million tons CO2 equivalent, an 8.5% decrease from the 2018 peak, demonstrating active compliance.

Regarding ozone layer protection, Korea strictly implements Montreal Protocol requirements. In 2023, the hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) phase-out task was completed ahead of reduction targets. Meanwhile, 350 billion won was invested to support alternative product R&D and industrial transformation, driving related enterprise technology upgrades.

In biodiversity protection, Korea formulated the “National Biodiversity Strategy” and established a nationwide ecological protection network. By 2023, 25 national parks had been established, with protected areas accounting for 17.8% of national territory. 2.8 trillion won was invested in ecosystem protection and restoration.

5.2 Northeast Asia Regional Cooperation Mechanism

Korea actively promotes Northeast Asian environmental cooperation, participating in multiple regional cooperation mechanisms. In 1999, it initiated the North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC), conducting practical cooperation with China, Japan, and other countries. In 2023, regional cooperation project investment reached 1.2 trillion won.

Air pollution prevention and control cooperation has shown significant results. Korea established joint research and early warning mechanisms for air pollution with China and Japan, jointly conducting PM2.5 source analysis research. In 2023, the three countries had 85 joint monitoring stations, achieving real-time pollution data sharing. Clean air technology exchanges were conducted, promoting best practices.

Marine environmental protection cooperation continues to deepen. Korea participates in the Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP), jointly protecting marine ecology with neighboring countries. In 2023, 850 billion won was invested in marine debris management, establishing cross-border marine environmental monitoring networks and jointly conducting marine ecological restoration.

Yellow dust prevention cooperation has made progress. Korea established a yellow dust joint research center with China, conducting source area management and monitoring early warning. In 2023, both sides jointly implemented 15 sand prevention and control projects, with afforestation area reaching 25,000 hectares. A sandstorm early warning mechanism was established to improve response capabilities.

5.3 Environmental Technology International Cooperation

Korea emphasizes environmental technology international cooperation, promoting technology exchange and innovation through various means. The “Environmental Technology International Cooperation Strategy” was released in 2020, proposing to build an environmental technology innovation cooperation network. In 2023, environmental technology international cooperation project investment reached 3.2 trillion won.

International joint R&D platforms have been established. Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute has established cooperative relationships with research institutions from over 20 countries, jointly conducting frontier technology research. In 2023, 85 international cooperation projects were implemented, involving clean energy, pollution control, and other fields. 280 international patents were jointly filed.

Environmental protection technology transfer and demonstration are promoted. Korea actively transfers advanced environmental protection technology to developing countries, promoting green development. In 2023, 42 technology transfer projects were implemented, with contract values reaching 1.5 billion USD. Five environmental protection technology demonstration centers were built in Southeast Asia to promote mature technologies.

Environmental protection industry internationalization is strengthened. Korean environmental protection enterprises are supported in “going global” and exploring international markets. In 2023, environmental protection industry exports reached 8.5 billion USD, an 18% year-on-year increase. Focus is placed on expanding advantages in wastewater treatment, air purification, and other fields to build international brands.

5.4 Cross-border Pollution Prevention and Control

Facing increasingly severe cross-border pollution issues, South Korea actively promotes regional joint prevention and control mechanisms. In 2019, the Cross-border Pollution Prevention Committee was established to coordinate related work. In 2023, investment in cross-border pollution prevention reached 2.5 trillion won.

Joint prevention and control of air pollution has shown significant results. Air quality early warning collaboration mechanisms have been established with China and Japan, sharing monitoring data and forecast information. In 2023, the three countries jointly conducted 15 emergency responses to severe pollution weather, effectively reducing pollution impact. Regional coordinated emission reduction has been promoted to improve air quality.

Marine pollution prevention cooperation continues to deepen. South Korea participates in the Northwest Pacific Regional Marine Environment Protection Mechanism, strengthening marine environmental monitoring and pollution prevention. In 2023, eight joint maritime oil spill emergency drills were conducted with neighboring countries, establishing a rapid response mechanism for marine environmental emergencies.

Nuclear safety cooperation continues to strengthen. South Korea has established nuclear power plant safety information notification mechanisms with neighboring countries, regularly exchanging nuclear safety regulatory experiences. In 2023, four nuclear safety technical seminars and two joint nuclear emergency drills were held. Regional nuclear safety standards coordination is promoted to improve emergency response capabilities.

Ecosystem protection cooperation progresses steadily. South Korea actively participates in Northeast Asian biodiversity protection network construction, strengthening migratory bird route protection. In 2023, three cross-border ecological corridors were built, and 12 ecosystem joint monitoring projects were implemented, promoting regional biodiversity protection.

Looking ahead, South Korea will further deepen regional environmental cooperation and promote the establishment of closer cooperation mechanisms. Key focus areas include: 1) improving multilateral environmental agreement compliance mechanisms to ensure commitment implementation; 2) deepening Northeast Asian regional cooperation to establish more effective joint prevention and control systems; 3) expanding international environmental technology cooperation to promote innovation sharing; 4) strengthening cross-border pollution prevention to enhance regional environmental governance capabilities.

South Korea’s active participation in regional environmental cooperation demonstrates that multilateral collaboration can effectively address cross-border environmental issues. In 2023, South Korea’s environmental cooperation expenditure reached 7.5 trillion won, playing an important role in improving regional environmental quality and promoting green development. These experiences provide important insights for promoting regional environmental governance.

In the future, South Korea will continue to uphold open cooperation concepts, actively participate in global environmental governance, and contribute to building a clean and beautiful world. Meanwhile, it will provide more opportunities for deepening regional environmental cooperation to promote mutually beneficial sustainable development.

Conclusion

South Korea’s environmental policy system construction and implementation provide important references for Chinese enterprises entering the Korean market while creating new development opportunities. Through systematic analysis of South Korea’s environmental policy development history and latest trends, several important insights can be drawn.

First, South Korea’s environmental policy system is increasingly improving, with green development becoming the mainstream trend. From basic environmental policy laws to specific systems, South Korea has built a systematic environmental governance framework. In 2023, South Korea’s environmental industry market size reached 98.5 trillion won, maintaining an annual growth rate above 12%. This indicates Chinese enterprises must highly value environmental compliance requirements as basic market entry conditions.

Second, South Korea’s environmental technology innovation and industrial transformation are accelerating. In 2024, South Korea’s environmental protection technology R&D investment reached 4.2 trillion won, focusing on clean energy and circular economy. Chinese enterprises should strengthen technological innovation and enhance product environmental friendliness to maintain competitive advantages in the Korean market. Data shows that products with environmental certification exceeded 35% market share in South Korea in 2023.

Third, South Korea’s green finance support policies continue to improve, providing strong support for enterprise transformation. As of 2024, South Korea’s green credit scale reached 125 trillion won, with green bond issuance exceeding 28 trillion won. Chinese enterprises can fully utilize South Korea’s green finance policies to obtain funding support for transformation development.

Fourth, South Korea’s environmental market openness continues to increase, with deepening international cooperation. In 2023, South Korea’s environmental protection industry opening index reached 0.82, with environmental service trade volume growing 15% year-on-year. This creates favorable conditions for Chinese environmental protection enterprises to expand in the Korean market, especially in pollution control and resource recycling where Chinese enterprises have strong competitiveness.

Fifth, regional environmental cooperation mechanisms continue to improve, with significant increase in cross-border business opportunities. South Korea actively promotes Northeast Asian environmental cooperation, with regional environmental cooperation project investment reaching 2.8 trillion won in 2023. Chinese enterprises can participate in South Korean environmental governance projects through regional cooperation platforms for mutual benefits.

Looking forward, South Korea’s environmental policies will continue to develop toward stricter and more systematic directions. By 2025, South Korea’s environmental industry market size is expected to exceed 120 trillion won, with environmental protection technology trade volume potentially reaching 10 billion USD. This means Chinese enterprises must prepare in advance and actively adapt to South Korea’s market green transformation trends.

Specifically, Chinese enterprises should take the following measures: First, strengthen environmental compliance management to ensure compliance with relevant South Korean regulations; Second, increase green technology R&D investment to enhance product environmental competitiveness; Third, actively connect with South Korea’s green finance policies to obtain transformation development funding support; Fourth, deepen strategic cooperation with South Korean enterprises to jointly develop environmental protection markets; Fifth, fully utilize regional cooperation mechanisms to participate in South Korean environmental governance projects.

2024 South Korean Ministry of Environment data shows that foreign enterprises with environmental competitive advantages continue to increase their Korean market share, with an average annual growth rate of 18%. This indicates that grasping South Korea’s market green transformation trends is not only necessary for addressing challenges but also an important opportunity to seize development advantages. Chinese enterprises can only achieve sustainable development in the Korean market by following this trend and actively adjusting development strategies.

Overall, the systematic reform of South Korea’s environmental policies is reshaping market competition patterns. Chinese enterprises should deeply understand policy orientations, accurately grasp market pulse, and transform environmental requirements into development momentum. Through technological innovation, management upgrading, and strategic adjustment, they can win greater development space in South Korea’s market green transformation wave. This will not only benefit enterprise development but also make positive contributions to China-South Korea environmental cooperation and regional sustainable development.