Environment Minister Kim Wan-seop speaks during a press briefing at Government Complex Sejong, Tuesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Environment
By Jung Da-hyun
Korea’s environment minister highlighted the need for global cooperation and reaffirmed the country’s dedication to sustainable and eco-friendly policies amid concerns over environmental policy rollbacks under the U.S. Donald Trump administration.
"Despite occasional setbacks, the global trend in environmental policy continues to move toward sustainability,” Environment Minister Kim Wan-seop said Tuesday during a meeting with reporters.
He assured that Korea would not change its environmental policies abruptly in reaction to U.S. decisions.
"Even during the first Trump administration, many environmental regulations were reversed, with nearly 100 executive orders signed. However, the U.S. has a system that prevents drastic shifts, as seen when courts blocked approximately half of those orders," he said.
"Korea must continue on our path at our own pace, rather than swaying back and forth based on U.S. political changes."
Kim also highlighted the increasing importance of global cooperation in addressing environmental issues.
As part of this effort, the environment ministry plans to establish a new bureau dedicated to managing international environmental regulations and agreements, promoting active engagement with the global community.
"In the past, people questioned why the environment ministry needed a budget for international affairs," Kim noted. "However, environmental issues have now become a top priority worldwide. While this initiative may have come later than ideal, it is a crucial step forward."
Kim emphasized that the bureau will help Korea share its green technologies, export environmental solutions and support developing nations with their sustainability efforts.
"We must not only introduce Korea’s environmental policies but also adopt best practices from other countries, ensuring our role as an active global partner," he said.
Climate ministry
Additionally, discussions are underway regarding the potential restructuring of the environment ministry into the "Ministry of Climate and Environment."
Rep. Park Jeung of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea proposed a bill on Monday to amend the Government Organization Act, aiming to establish a more structured and swift response system for climate change.
The proposal seeks to rename the environment ministry as the climate and environment ministry, elevate its status to a deputy prime minister-level agency and appoint a second vice minister to oversee climate policy coordination.
Kim voiced strong support for the upgrade, citing the need for a more integrated approach to climate change policies.
"Currently, when we try to address issues like climate-related crop damage or the health risks faced by outdoor workers, multiple agencies are involved, but there is no clear system for comprehensive review," he said.
"A well-organized framework is essential to effectively address these challenges in a more systematic way."
He also pointed out that the government currently lacks a designated lead agency for climate policy.
"There have been discussions on whether climate issues should fall under the Ministry of Economy and Finance or another department, but fundamentally, climate policy is rooted in environmental management," Kim said.
English (United States) ·