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Environment & Sustainability Guide

Air quality, green spaces, and environmental policies in South Korea

South Korea faces significant environmental challenges including poor climate performance, high GHG emissions, and increasing extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change. While it leads OECD in recycling rates and has committed to carbon neutrality by 2050, policies remain misaligned with 1.5°C goals, with ongoing coal reliance and low renewable energy progress. Air quality is stable but urban pollution persists, water quality is generally good, and natural disaster risks are rising due to wildfires and floods.[1][2][3][7]

Air Quality Index

Moderate

6.0/10

Stable trend

South Korea's air quality trend is stable per database, but urban areas suffer from high PM2.5 due to industry and transport. Government initiatives like coal phase-out by 2050 and regulations have improved management, though effectiveness is limited by fossil fuel dependence.

Water Quality

Good

8.0/10

South Korea maintains good water quality standards with recent data submissions from National Institute of Environmental Research indicating effective monitoring and treatment. Drinking water is safe in urban areas, though industrial pollution remains a concern in some rivers.

High treatment standards ensure safe tap water in most regions, supported by national monitoring.

Recycling System

South Korea has the highest recycling rate among OECD countries, with municipal waste management shifting from landfilling to recycling and energy recovery. Per capita waste generation is below OECD average but increasing.

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Green Spaces

Terrestrial protected areas align with OECD average, but marine protection is negligible. Efforts needed for 30% protection target by 2030. National parks and forests cover substantial areas supporting biodiversity.

Forest Coverage: 35.5%

National Parks: 22

Focus on expanding marine protected areas and conserving inland waters.

Environmental Policies

South Korea's Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality targets 2050 neutrality, with NDC for 40% emissions reduction by 2030 below 2018. Coal phase-out by 2050 pledged, but renewable targets lowered to 21.5% by 2030. Joined Global Methane Pledge for 30% cut.

Key Policies:

•Carbon Neutrality by 2050
•Coal Phase-out by 2050
•Global Methane Pledge

Renewable Energy: Renewable share target reduced from 30.2% to 21.5% by 2030, with nuclear and LNG expansion.

Natural Disaster Risk

MODERATE

Common disasters include wildfires, floods, typhoons, and earthquakes. Recent historic wildfires in March 2025 killed 32, injured 45, displaced 37,000, burning 100,000+ hectares.

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Climate Change Impacts: Climate change drives higher temperatures (e.g., 10°C above March average in 2025 fires) and drier conditions, increasing wildfire risk (HDWI trend). Precipitation projected to rise 3.6% at 1.5°C warming, intensifying floods. Over 10-20 years, unseasonal heatwaves and low winter rain heighten extremes; 2024 court ruled climate measures inadequate.

Sustainability Initiatives

Renewable Energy

NDC targets 40% emissions reduction by 2030; renewable share to 21.5% by 2030, though lowered from prior goal. Framework Act enshrines 2050 carbon neutrality with sectoral roadmaps.

Waste Management

Highest OECD recycling rate; shift to recycling and incineration with energy recovery, reducing landfilling. Per capita waste below average but rising.

Climate Adaptation

KOICA Climate Change Response Strategy 2021-2025 supports green recovery, adaptation in vulnerable countries, aiming for 28% ODA in climate by 2025.

Wildlife & Nature

Amur LeopardCritically Endangered

Siberian TigerEndangered

Red-crowned CraneEndangered

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