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 seven million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent since 2011. 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 declined by 0.2 milligrams per liter in the last decade. Further, the amount of waste landfilled in South Korea has also decreased by more than three 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.
