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South Korea

Political Groups
G77, G20, OECD, EIG
Global Climate Risk Index
64
Targets
World Bank Income Group
High income
Share of Global Emissions
1.31%

Documents

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2023Policy

South Korea joined the Global Methane Pledge and announced a methane reduction plan that sets a target to reduce national methane emissions by 30% below 2018 levels by 2030. Sectoral targets were announced for energy (28.6%), agriculture (20.9%), and waste (46.5%), all below 2018 levels by 2030.

2023Policy

The Korean Ministry of Environment has enacted an amendment to the Waste Management Act to improve waste management, especially concerning hazardous chemicals, and to enhance regulations. This includes setting new standards to increase electric vehicle battery recycling.

2023Policy

This policy document outlines plans for the development of the Republic of Korea's power sector until 2036. It plans to reach 21.6% of renewables by 2030, and 31% by 2036.

Legislative Process

The legal system of South Korea is a civil law system that has its basis in the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, which is at the pinnacle of the country’s hierarchy of laws. Korea’s Acts and Subordinate Statutes form a consolidated system that is designed to prevent contradictions or conflicts.

The power to enact Acts belongs exclusively to the National Assembly, with the law-making power held by the Executive for subordinate statutes confined to matters delegated by Acts and other matters necessary to enforce Acts. Since such subordinate statutes are required to conform to Acts, the National Assembly is the supreme law-making organ. The most recent National Assembly elections took place in April 2016. The next election is expected for 2020. The last Presidential Election took place in December 2012. The next Presidential election is due to take place in 2017.

The law-making process can be initiated by the national assembly or by government representatives. In the first case, a bill is proposed by 10 or more national assembly representatives. The proposed bill is deliberated by the standing committee. After the bill passes the committee, it is referred to the plenary session. Bills that pass the plenary session will then be sent to the government to be promulgated. Bills can also be submitted by a relevant ministry. Other ministries will be consulted and a public notice will be issued. The bill is then reviewed by the Ministry of Legislation (MOLEG), an independent and specialised self-legislative control agency within the government in order to exercise overall control of and co-ordinate the government’s legislative activities and to review whether individual bills contravene higher laws or conflict with relevant laws. The bill is deliberated at the State Council and sent for presidential approval. After that it is submitted to the National Assembly for decision. Once it is passed in the National Assembly, it returns to MOLEG and is finally promulgated. Presidential decrees are promulgated directly after their approval by the President and do not go through the National Assembly.