Environmental Industries
in Korea
The 8th AIM International Workshop
13-15, March 2003
NIES, 305-8506, Tsukuba, Japan
Sunghan Jo(Andong National University/CEEK)
Tae Yong Jung
(IGES/CEEK)ContentsEnvironmental Industry• A New Engine for Economic Development• Strategic Plans for Sustainable Development

Environmental Technology• Development of Environmental Technology• R& D Project• Next Generation Environmental Technology

Environmental Industry

A New Engine for Economic Development• the most promising industries in the 21st century
along with IT & BT
• The market for the Environmental
Technology(ET) industry
Estimated at 11 trillion won in Korea
 Through 2005, expected to annual growth of 15%
domesticallyEnvironmental IndustryEnvironmental Industry in Korea(Unit: 100 Mill. Won, %)Ann. Growth Rate
Area

1995

2005

2015
‘95-’05‘05-’15

Water

28,937(48.9)

82,319(39.5)

84,900(30.0)

11.0

0.3

Air Pollution

10,803(18.2)

34,595(16.6)

42,450(15.0)

12.3

2.1

Waste

17,011(28.7)

50,641(24.3)

56,600(20.0)

11.5

1.1

Soil

2,008(3.4)

15,005(7.2)

31,130(11.0)

22.3

7.6

Service446(0.8)

25,842(12.4)

67,920(24.0)

50.1

10.1

Total

59,205(100.0)

208,402(100.0)

283,000(100.0)

13.4

3.1

Source: 21st Century Env. Technology Development Plan, 1997, NIER, Korea

Environmental Industry

ET Development Strategy• The Eco-technopia 21 program

Develop environmental technology essential for thegrowth and competitiveness of the ET industry• Build the environmental infrastructureWill invest 5.5 trillion won• Enter international environmental market
China and Southeast Asia

Environmental IndustryStrategic Plans for Sustainable Development• The Basic Environmental Policy Act
The establishment of an integrated long-term policy• Green Vision 21
Established with forward-looking environmental policy
objectives and action plans
 Annual and mid-term action plans Improve the quality of life by maintaining the balance
between development and conservation
Environmental Industry


Seven Areas by the Korean Government• environmental ethics and education• sustainable production and consumption patterns• sustainable land-use• improving basic living conditions• developing environmentally friendly technology• global environmental health• the greening of the government.

Environmental Industry(Eco-2 Project); 3 Targets• Environmental Industry Expansion• Enhancement of Eco-efficiency• Integration of Economy and Environment

Environmental Industry
(Eco-2 Project); Areas• Strategic Plan of Environmental Industry
Strategic Plan (2001 – 2003)
 Env. Venture Funds (10 Bill. Won)• Core-Environmental Technology Development
Plan (by 2002)
 Regional Env. Technology Development Center(10 ⇒ 18)


• Oversea Env. Industrial Market Expansion
In China: Exhibition Center for Korean Env. Industry& Technology ‘Supporting Group for Env. Industry Export’Environmental Technology
Development of Environmental Technology• Korean environmental technology lags behindthat of advanced nations by roughly 4-5 years

short history and lack of fundamental experience and access tobasic technologies• Transformed from an emphasis on posttreatment processes to a greater emphasis on
proactive processes
Focus on prevention and elimination of pollution sources expected to move beyond post-treatment of air, water, andwaste to pollution prevention
Environmental Technology


Status of Environmental Technology• the level of overall environmental technology
remains at 30-60% of that of developed
countries• The first generation post treatment technologies
such as dust collection, advanced waste water
treatment, and small-scale incineration
 in the demonstration stage
 evaluated to be up to 60-80% of the level of theadvanced nations
Environmental Technology


Status of Environmental Technology• Cutting-edge technologies of the futuresecond-generation clean production technology,
bioengineering and aerospace technologies,
 still in their infancy and dependent on importedtechnology• Core post treatment and pollution prevention
technologies are especially under-developed

Environmental TechnologyThe direction of environmental technology
development• focused on the development of basic
environmental facilities like wastewatertreatment• lead the industry in coming years for their highadded value, vast marketability, and efficiency

Environmental Technology

R& D Project• a three-stage public-private technology
development partnership project
the development of environmental engineering
technologies in air, water quality, waste, clean
production, and environmental health in general 325 billion won was invested on 306 research anddevelopment tasks, out of which 199 tasks werecompletedEnvironmental Technology

Next Generation Environmental Technology(Eco-technopia 21 Project)• initiated to meet the demands for new
environmental technologies
some 22 core technologies in four unit projects,
including pollution prevention technology, andecosystem preservation and restoration• For 10 years, roughly 100 billion won in annual
subsidies will be offered by the government,
amounting to 1 trillion won in total support

Environmental Technology


The Direction of Eco-technopia 21 Project• to organize a consortium of industry, academia,
and research institutes to develop package
technology• to follow the principle of selection andconcentration• is to develop technology for pollution prevention
and ecosystem restoration, which is unique to theMinistry of Environment• technology R&D, commercialization, andinternational cooperation should all be integrated

comprehensive technology development method will be adopted