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Fact to Act on #41: The Republic of Korea
Article 35 of the Republic of Korea's Constitution states that all people have the right to live in a healthy and pleasant environment. Yet, rapid urbanization and industrialization, high population density, and increasing affluence have contributed to widespread environmental degradation. Like many other industrialized nations, Korea has experienced a shift from refillable containers to disposables. For example, Seoul Milk, the last Korean company to use a refillable glass bottle for milk, switched to paper cartons in 1989.
Waste management poses a particular challenge in the country. The nation
is one of the most densely populated in the world. Population density
and mountainous terrain limit land availability for waste disposal facilities.
Furthermore, South Korean residents' per capita municipal solid waste
generation rates have been historically high compared to other countries
with similar gross domestic products. 11
The Act Relating to the Promotion of Resource Saving and Reutilization, enacted December 8, 1992, and amended November 22, 1995, gives the federal government broad powers to implement programs, including those embodying the principles of extended producer responsibility, that support development of a sustainable waste management system. EPR and product stewardship strategies adopted by the Korean government include deposit-refund systems, non-refundable product fees, restrictions on the distribution of disposable goods, design requirements for packaging, and eco-labeling.
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Facts to Act On #41, Asian Countries
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