https://legal.excellentwiki.com/south-korea/environmental-law/Recent content in Environmental Law on ExcellentWiki - Legal EncyclopediaHugoen-USTue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://legal.excellentwiki.com/south-korea/environmental-law/south-korea-environmental-law/Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://legal.excellentwiki.com/south-korea/environmental-law/south-korea-environmental-law/<h2 id="introduction">Introduction</h2> <p>South Korean environmental law has developed rapidly since the 1980s, evolving from a pollution-control approach to a comprehensive system encompassing climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable development. The <strong>Framework Act on Environmental Policy</strong> (환경정책기본법, 1990) serves as the foundational statute, supplemented by sectoral laws on air quality, water management, waste, and chemicals.</p> <h2 id="framework-act-on-environmental-policy">Framework Act on Environmental Policy</h2> <p>The Framework Act establishes fundamental principles of environmental law:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Environmental rights</strong> (Article 35 of Constitution): The right to a healthy environment is a constitutional right, enforceable through the Constitutional Court</li> <li><strong>Polluter pays principle</strong>: Those causing environmental harm bear remediation costs</li> <li><strong>Precautionary principle</strong>: Applied in environmental impact assessment and chemical regulation</li> <li><strong>Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)</strong> : Required for major development projects (Article 27)</li> </ul> <h2 id="environmental-impact-assessment">Environmental Impact Assessment</h2> <p>The <strong>Environmental Impact Assessment Act</strong> (환경영향평가법, 2011) requires EIAs for projects exceeding certain thresholds (urban development, industrial complexes, energy facilities, transportation infrastructure). The assessment process includes:</p>