H. Yoo
Research expert covering South Korea
Pollution in South Korea - statistics & facts
In the past three decades, South Korea’s carbon dioxide emissions have increased by over 100 percent. The rise in pollution levels has been a steep price to pay for “the Miracle on the Han River,” otherwise known as the country’s rapid economic growth following the Korean War. South Korea’s expenditure on environmental protection has increased over time, but whether this is enough to offset the damage already caused by pollution has yet to be determined.
State of pollution in South Korea
Air, land, and water pollution levels in South Korea have seen incremental improvements over the years. Greenhouse gas emissions have declined overall by around four million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent since 2013. In particular, 2019 and 2020 saw significant drops in emissions, likely due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The level of biochemical oxygen demand for one of the main rivers in the country, the Han River, has maintained a steady level of quality in the last decade. Further, the amount of waste landfilled in South Korea has also decreased by almost five million tons since 2015.Public opinion on pollution
Public policy geared toward reducing pollution seems to lack the proper incentives as weak enforcement and punishment were found to be leading reasons for littering or illegally incinerating plastic waste. However, the repercussions of pollution have become clearer over time. According to a survey conducted on the state of environmental management in South Korea, over 39 percent of respondents stated that they are not completely enjoying the current natural environment around them. Indeed, more people have started to consider environmental protection as a major issue as most respondents agreed with the polluter pays principle, which suggest that developers who cause damage to the ecosystem should be held liable for damages.
