1. The Current Situations of
Regional/Local Green Growth
Policies in Korea
2012 ICLEI Global Forum on Sustainable Development
“Successful Cases and A Search for the Future Strategy toward SD”
April 10, 2012. / Jeju KAL Hotel
JEON, DAE UK
Ph.D. in Mgmt. Eng. / Research Fellow, Div of Local Development Research
Korea Research Institute for Local Administration

2. Regional/Local Green Growth in Korea
Since 2008, LCGG (or GG: Low Carbon, Green Growth) forms one of the
pillars of the national development strategy as a new paradigm of
economic growth nationwide.
“The 5-yr National Action Plan for LCGG,” containing the 3 main objectives and 10
policy directions, has been launched since 2009 toward positioning among the top 5
green-growth countries in the world in 2050.
Each regional/local government has planed & implemented since 2009
its own policy actions for GG, following the national strategy.
As a sub-plan of the national 5-yr action plan, each regional/local plan established with
considering its characteristics and specific policy instruments appropriate to implement
aggressively the national strategy at each regional/local level.
In 2009 the “5-yr Provincial Action Plans” initiated in the all 16 provinces in Korea
This study summarizes & discusses the current conditions of and policy
actions in the 2010 annual plans of the 16 provinces to pursue LCGG.
Data Source : 2011 Annual Evaluation Report on the Performance of the 16 Provincial
Action Plans for GG by PCGG (Presidential Committee on Green Growth) & KRILA
(Korea Research Inst. for Local Admin.)

3. Regional/Local Action Plans for GG
Basic Principles of LCGG Promotion
Article 3, 10 of the FAGG (Framework Act on LCGG) & Art 5 of its ED (Enforcement Decree)
Gov’nt has to promote a comprehensive national strategy to resolve
problems of climate change, energy & resources, to expand engines of
economic growth, to enhance enterprises’ competitiveness, to effectively
utilize of national lands, and to develop a comfortable environment
The 5-yr NAPGG (National Action Plans for GG) to be established and implemented
with integrating the Central Offices’ plans for GG by PCGG
Responsibilities of Local Govn’t (Article 5, 11, 12 of FAGG & Art 7, 9 of its ED)
A Provincial/Metropolitan Governor to establish/implement/revise a 5-yr
LAPGG (Local Action Plan for GG) following the NAPGG
Also to review/evaluate the performance of LAPGG every yr, and to submit it to PCGG
Final Review of the performance of the 16 LAPGGs & Feedback to the
16 Provincial/Metro Govn’ts by PCGG (Article 13 of FAGG)
A Provincial/Metro Governor has to endeavor to reflect the opinions on
policies presented by PCGG
The final review and presentation of opinions first made by PCGG & KRILA in 2011
3

4. Local/Regional Propellants for GG
Propellant among Central Administrative Agencies (Article 14, 15 of FAGG)
PCGG instituted to deliberate the national plans for GG and performance of the
central offices, and to coordinate actions among them
PCGG comprised of Prime Minister & relevant Ministers, private Specialists commissioned
by the Presidents, etc.
Legal plans subordinated or related to the national plans for GG
Basic Plan for Coping with Climate Change (PMO, Art 40), Basic Plan for Energy (MKE, Art
41), Basic Plan for Sustainable Development (ME, Art 50), Countermeasures for Mitigating
Impacts of Climate Change (ME, Art 48), Comprehensive National Land Plan, Urban/Rural
County Master Plan, Balanced National Development Plan, etc (Art 51 of FAGG)
Taskforces in provincial/metro governments (Art 20, 21 of FAGG and Art 15 of its ED)
LCGG (Local Committee on GG) to deliberate on matters concerning its major
policies and plans related to LCGG and the performance thereof
Provincial/Metro Governor to designate of GGP (Green Growth Officer) to
efficiently promote LCGG
LCGG under the control of the provincial/metro governor is comprised of Administrative
Deputy Governor, Head of an office/bureau in provincial/metro government, Specialists
commissioned by the governor, etc.
LCGGs and GGOs designated in the all 16 Provinces/Metropolitan Cities in 2009, and 244
local rules for GG established (incl. 196 Ordinances & 9 Regulations) in Korea until the
end of 2011 (MOPAS)

5. Glance at Local/Regional Policies #1
Key Features by the 3 main objectives and the 10 policy directions
[Obj #1] Mitigation of Climate Change & Improvement of Energy Independence
10 Policy in the National Strategy Policy in the Local Action Cases of Excellent Cases of Cautious
Directions (NAPGG) Plans Performance Application
• Clean river restoring project
• City-forest & Eco-friendly • Expansion of forest for Daesa River, Forrest walk
1. Mitigation • Low carbon society
river restoration biomass energy (Jeolbuk) road in Mt. Bomun (Daejeon)
of GHG • Carbon absorbing & circulating
• Carbon-point system • Project for municipal solid • Voluntary agreement for
Emissions society
• Green Action Campaign waste RDF & boiler (Busan) reduction of GHG emission
(Chungbuk)
• Wind power industry
• Construct of low-energy • Abandoned metal
• LED & New and renewable project (Jeolnam)
2. Fossil Fuel cosumption & high efficiency recycling project(Seoul)
energy implement • Ganghwa tidal energy
Reduction & society • Fuel cell electric power
• Build low-carbon green power plant joint
Energy • Enlargement of clean energy generation by methane gas
towns development project
Independenc supply from digester (Busan)
• Bioenergy pilot projects (Incheon)
y • Strengthen of oversea resource • Tower Solar thermal
• Bio-diesel vehicles • Construction of biogas
development ability power plants (Daegu)
plants (Gyeonggi)
• Conservation & manage
• Build climate monitoring,
3. • Forest resource expansion Coastal wetland (Jeolnam) • Testbed of carbon recycling
predicting, early response system
Improvemen • Education to reduce GHGs • Green IDC (Internet Data seawater farm (Jeolbuk)
• Strengthen disaster
t of • Green or local food Center) Construction • Building Saemangum wide
management, national health care
Capability to campaign (Incheon) area ecosystem network
& food security under climate
Adapt • Climate change monitoring • Climate change (Jeolbuk)
change
Climate and disaster response system monitoring about • Hydro-station construction
• Sustainable water, ocean &
Change •Support low-income citizens Baeckdudaegan ecosystem (Gyeongnam)
forest management
(Gangwon)

6. Glance at Local/Regional Policies #2
[Obj #2] Creation of NGE (New Growth Engines)
10 Policy in the National Strategy Policy in the Local Action Cases of Excellent Cases of Cautious
Directions (NAPGG) Plans Performance Application
• Strategic investment & activating • Ocean bio-energy
• Continuous search for core • ESCO (Energy Service
international cooperation for GT production system
4. GT GT and support for R&D Companies) project (Ulsan)
(Green Tech) infrastructure, R&D (Chungnam)
Develop & • Installation of green cars, • Green social enterprise
• Accelerating GT transfer & build- • Greening and
Creation of green public offices (Chungnam)
up industry strenghening green
NGE •Establish new & renewable • Support & development of
• Find new growth engines building competancy of local biz
energy clusters 7 core GT (Gyeongbuk)
GT industry (Gyeongbuk)
• Build industry cluster based
• Expand production base of
• Building resource cycling economy on GT at each range sphere, • Build-up glass industry
5. env-friendly agriculture
• Greening industry & its structure establish Tae-an energy by using coal muck in
Nurturing • Greening local industries
• Fostering green venture, small & overall exclusive industrial Samchuck (Gangwon)
Green • Funds, CDM or other
medium corps & knowledge-leading zone (Chungnam) • Greening major local
Industry supports for green industry,
green clusters •Build a 5GW wind power biz (Gyeongbuk)
green start-up & venture biz
industry cluster (Jeolnam)
• RnD core components
6. • Enhancement of Env- in env-friendly green
• Develop new growth harness
Advanceme friendly robot tech and • R&D, commercialize ocean welding system
cutting-edge fusion industry, higher
nt of industry, medical facility and bio energy (Jeolbuk) (Jeolbuk)
value -added service industry
Industry service industry, etc. • Intelligent housing
tech (Gyeongnam)
• Activate strategic finance for GT &
• Introduce carbon-point • Introduce public carbon
industry, establish green finance
7. system, emission trading funds (Ulsan), green energy
infra & carbon market
Institutional scheme for public offices funds (Jeolnam), low-carbon • Introduce carbon
• Env-friendly taxing & tax support
Foundation •Tax support to green fund (Gyeongbuk) finance system
for green merchandise, industry
for Green products, vehicles, buildings • Pilot project for public (Chungnam))
• Regulation reform of low-carbon
Economy •Supply new & renew energy offices' GHG emission
society, promote energy welfare,
to local welfare facility scheme (Gyeonggi)
green jobs & green human capital

7. Glance at Local/Regional Policies #3
[Obj #3] Improvement in QOL & enhancement of international standing
10 Policy in the National Policy in the Local Action Cases of Cautious
Cases of Excellent Performance
Directions Strategy (NAPGG) Plans Application
• Greening city bus
• Greening public bldgs (Gwangju)
• Automatic bicycle rental garages (Daegu), Inner
8. Creation • Establish of green land, • Change building design to
system, construct bike roads city Green Walking Road
of green localities, buildings & reduce energy (Gwangju)
• Greening rooftops of public project (Daejeon)
homeland transportation • Gwangkyo Bridge's Wind Path
offices • Eco-friendly building by
& • Enhancement of ecological connected to green walkroad
• Urban traffic optimization & using recycled aggregate
transportati conservation area (Gyeonggi)
main road management and asphalt (Gyeonggi)
on • Enlargement of bicycle use • "Green Home" projects by
project, greening port systems • Saemanguem Wetland
installing PV pannel (Gyeonggi)
Park project (Jeolbuk)
• Establish GG education & • Adopt carbon point system
9. Bringing green citizen training at housing & transportation • Food Mileage Labeling • Change official vehicles
green • Expand practice of green • "Green Start" campaign (Gyeonggi) to eco-friendly oens
revolution life, consumption and • Change LED lightning at • Private-leading Energy (Daejeon)
into daily tourism public buildings and support Independence Village Project • Green Farming Town
life • Low-carbon & green for privates (Jeolbuk) project (Gyeongbuk)
village projects • Eco-mileage/drive campaign
• Establish domestic and • Greening convention ceners,
international cooperation solar-light power generation in
• International co-operations network athletic facilities (Daegu)
10. toward global GG, • Governance systems incl. • Northeast New and Renew
Becoming a positioning as role model of citizens, experts, etc. Energy Hub project (Jeolbuk) • International green
role model GG in the world • Greening various • Saemanguem Int. Carbon Finance venture technology fare
as a GG • Support low-income international events held in Center project (Jeolbuk) (Jeolbuk)
leader regions/countries to localities • UNESCO's designation of south-
introduce GG • Build a testbed for new and west coastal mud flat as a
renew energy develop and biosphere conservation area
practice (Jeolnam)

8. Local Conditions toward GG #1
Present conditions by Province/Metropolitan : Population & GRP
High-density Area :
MCs (Metropolitan Cities) : Seoul Special MC, Busan MC, Daegu MC, Incheon MC, Gwangju MC,
Daejeon MC, and Ulsan MC
Gyeonggi Province : located and highly-populated in the Capital Region (surrounding the Seoul
SMC), high- & low-density localities co-exist since this province is the widest
Regions where per capita Production is relatively larger :
Highly-populated areas (such as Seoul & the Capital Region) vs Highly-industrialized areas (such
as Ulsan, the Province of Chungbuk, Chungnam, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam)

9. Local Conditions toward GG #2
Present Cond. : Production Structure
Metro Type (Service-centric or
service & manufacturing dominant) :
Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju, Daejeon
Industrial Complex Type (Manufacturing-centric or
manufacturing & agriculture/fishery dominant) :
Ulsan, Gyeonggi, Chungnam/buk, Gyeongnam/buk
Ecological Sphere Type (Agriculture-centric or
Agriculture/Fishery and Service dominant) :
Gangwon, Jeju, Jeolnam/buk

10. Local Conditions toward GG #3
Present Cond. : Energy Consumption
[Metro] Housing, commercial use in Seoul,
Daejeon; industrial, transportational use in Incheon,
Busan
[Ind Complex] Industrial, transportational in Ulsan,
Chungnam, Gyeongbuk; transportational in
Cungbuk, and Gyeongnam
[Eco Sphere] Industrial, transportational in Jeolnam;
Every kind of energy consumption in Gangwon is
relatively higher (because of wide area, etc.)

11. Local Conditions toward GG #4
Present Cond. : CO2 Emission
[Metro] Large per capita emission in Busan,
Daejeon; above the average in Seoul, Incheon;
below the average in Daegu, Gwangju
[Ind Complex] Large per capita emission in Ulsan;
below the average in Gyeonggi, Chungnam/buk,
Gyeongnam/buk
[Eco Sphere] Every province in this type is around
or near the average

12. Local Conditions toward GG #5
Present Cond. : Production of & Investment in New & Renewable Energy
[Metro] Fast-growing energy production in Daegu, Incheon, Seoul; but small production volume
except Incheon (where the needs of energy independence is high because of many ocean areas and
islands)
[Ind Complex] Vigorous production as well as consumption of energy in Ulsan (where the largest
industrial complex exists); outstanding production & investment in Chungbuk and Gyeongbuk;
investment recently increasing in Chungnam; a little depressed in Gyeongnam
[Eco Sphere] Production & Investment are all active in every province in this type;
the largest production volume but recently investment inactive during 2006-2009 in Jeolnam

13. Local Policy Actions for GG #1
Number of Local Actions by Province/Metropolitan (until the end of 2010)
Metrocities Mitigation CC & Improv Creation of New Improv in QOL & Enhance
Total
/Provinces of Energy Independence Growth Engines International Standing
Seoul 66 24 11 101
Busan 65 61 76 202
Daegu 29 32 56 117
Incheon 19 27 50 96
Gwangju 49 63 64 176
Daejeon 71 36 65 172
Ulsan 32 33 48 113
Gyeonggi 44 44 42 130
Gangwon 26 25 31 82
Chungbuk 30 23 50 103
Chungnam 37 46 47 130
Jeolbuk 63 65 52 180
Jeolnam 49 59 62 170
Gyeongbuk 55 67 61 183
Gyeongnam 78 56 72 206
Jeju 34 25 19 78
Total 747 686 806 2,239

14. Local Policy Actions for GG #1
Actions by the 3 GG Objectives
[Metro] Actions focusing on mitigating CC &
improving EI in Seoul, Daejeon; on creating NGE in
Gwangju, on improving QOL & local identity in
Busan, Daegu, Incheon
[Ind Complex] On mitigating CC & improving EI in
Gyeongnam; on creating NGE in Gyeonggi,
Chungnam, Gyeongbuk; on improving QOL & LI in
Ulsan, Chungbuk
[Eco Sphere] On mitigating CC & improv. EI in Jeju;
on creating NGE in Jeolnam/buk, balanced actions
in Gangwon

15. Local Policy Actions for GG #2
Obj #1: Mitigating CC & Improving EI
(Climate Change) (Energy Independence)
[Metro] Focusing on improving CACC (Capability to
Adapt Climate Change) in this type; also on reduci
ng FF (Fossil Fuel) & enhancing EI (Energy Indepen
dency) in Busan
[Ind Complex] On reducing FF & CO2 emission,
improving EI in this type; on improving CACC in
Chungnam
[Eco Sphere] On reducing FF & CO2 emission,
improving EI in this type; on enhancing CACC in
Chungnam

16. Local Policy Actions for GG #3
Obj #2: Creating NGE (New Growth Engine)
[Metro] Actions focusing on institutional
foundation for GE (Green Economy) in Seoul,
Busan, Gwangju; on developing GT (Green Tech) in
Busan, Daegu, Incheon; on incubating GI (Green
Industry) in Daegu, Daejeon
[Ind Complex] Balanced actions in Chungnam,
Gyeongbuk; focus on incubating GI in Gyeonggi,
Gyeongnam; on developing GT in Ulsan, Chungbuk
[Eco Sphere] On incubating GI in Gangwon,
Jeolnam, Jeju; on developing GT in Jeolbuk; also
on institutional foundation in Gangwon, Jeju

17. Local Policy Actions for GG #4
Obj #3: Improving QOL & LI
(Quality of Life) (Local Identity)
[Metro] Focusing on GTS (Green Transport System)
in this type; Also on GCT (Green Consumption &
Tourism) in Incheon
[Ind Complex] Focusing on GTS in Ulsan, Gyeonggi,
Chungnam; on GCT in Chungnam,
Gyeongnam/buk; on GN (Green Networking) in
Ulsan, Chungbuk, Gyeongbuk
[Eco Sphere] On GCT in Gangwon, Jeolnam, Jeju;
on GN in Jeolnam/buk

18. Summary & Discussion #1
Policy Conditions & Actions in the Metro Type Regions
New & ③ Improv
① Mitigation CC
Per capita Renewable ② Creation of in QOL &
Energy (Climate Change) &
CO2 Energy 3 Objectives New Growth Enhance
Consumption Improv of EI (Energy
Emission Production & Engines Inter.
Indep.)
Investment Standing
Institutional GE GHT (Green
Large in housing Recently active Improving capability
Seoul Large Focus on ① (Green Econ) Homeland &
& commercial investment to adapt CC
Foundation Transport)
Reducing Fos. Fuel &
Developing GT
Large in industrial enhancing EI
Busan Very large Stagnant Focus on ③ (Green Tech) GHT
& transport Improving capability
Inst. GE Found.
to adapt CC
Metro Type
Near or Below Increasing Developing GT
Daegu Small Focus on ③ Reducing CO2 Emiss. GHT
Average investment Incubating GI
Large in industrial Large GCT (Green
In- Improving capability
& transport, large Large production & Focus on ③ Developing GT Consume &
cheon to adapt CC
use of fossil fuel investment Tourism)
Gwang Improving capability
Relatively large Small Stagnant Focus on ② Inst. GE Found. GHT
-ju to adapt CC
Dae- Large in housing Incubating GI
Very large Stagnant Focus on ① Reducing CO2 Emiss. GHT
jeon & commercial (Green Industy)
In metro cities with vigorous commercial service, e.g. Seoul & Daejeon, policy actions needed as aggressive
investment on New & Renew Energy and reduction of CO2 emission
In cities with large ports, e.g. Busan & Incheon, GT development needed to reduce transport CO2 emission
In cities with weak industrial bases, e.g. Daegu & Gwangju, low level of CO2 emissions but need to incubate
new growth engines (manufacturing industry incubation for Daegu, service incubation for Gwangju)

19. Summary & Discussion #2
Policy Conditions & Actions in the Industrial Complex Type Regions
Per capita New & Renew ① Mitigation CC ② Creation ③ Improv in
Energy 3
CO2 Energy Production & Improv of of New QOL & Local
Consumption Objectives
Emission & Investment Energy Indep. Growth Eng Identity
Large in Largest production Reduce Fos. Fuel
Focus on GCT
Ulsan industrial & Very large as well as & enhance EI Develop GT
③ GN
transport consumption Reducing CO2
Reducing CO2 GCT (Green
Industrial Complex Type
Gyeong- Different from Focus on
Small Near Average Reduce Fos. Fuel Incubating GI Consume &
gi Cities/Counties ②
& enhance EI Tourism)
Chung- Large in Active production & Focus on Reduce Fos. Fuel GN (Green
Small Develop GT
buk transport investment ③ & enhance EI Networking)
GHT (Green
Improving
Chung- Large in ind. & Investment recently Focus on Homeland &
Small capability to Balanced
nam transport; large increasing ② Transport)
adapt CC
use of Fos. Fuel GCT
Gyeong- & electricity Active production & Focus on Reduce Fos. Fuel GN
Small Balanced
buk investment ② & enhance EI GCT
Gyeong- Large in Focus on
Small A little depressed Reducing CO2 Incubating GI GCT
nam transport ①
In Ulsan with the largest industrial complex & energy production/consumption, actions needed to develop GT
and to network corporations and experts toward implementing a cutting-edge industrial ecology
In provinces with large consumption of energy especially in industry and transportation, e.g. Gyeonggi,
Chungnam, Gyeongbuk, actions needed to develop GT & green industry to innovate industrial and transport
systems to reduce energy use and CO2 emission
Expansion of actions needed to reduce transport CO2 emission in Chungbuk and Gyeongnam; Also in
Gyeongnam strongly needed to increase investment in New & Renewable energy

20. Summary & Discussion #3
Policy Conditions & Actions in the Eco Sphere Type Regions
New &
③ Improv in
Per capita Renewable ① Mitigation CC ② Creation of
Energy 3 QOL &
CO2 Energy & Improv of New Growth
Consumption Objectives Enhance Inter.
Emission Production & Energy Indep. Engines
Standing
Investment
Active GCT (Green
Gang- Relatively large Near Incubating GI
production & Balanced Reducing CO2 Consume &
won (wide area, etc.) Average Inst. GE Found.
Ecological Sphere Type
investment Tourism)
Jeol- large use of Near Active prod. & GN (Green
Focus on ② Reducing CO2 Develop GT
buk electricity Average investment Networking)
Large in ind. & Largest prod. Reduce Fos. Fuel
Jeol- transport; large Near nol. but lagged & enhance EI GCT
Focus on ② Incubating GI
nam use of Fos. Fuel Average investment Improve capability GN
& electricity recently to adapt CC
Near or
Active prod. & Reduce Fos. Fuel Incubating GI
Jeju Small Above Focus on ① GCT
investment & enhance EI Inst. GE Found.
Average
Although in most of the provinces of this type with relatively-large consumption of energy, it looks desirable to
act toward keeping low levels of per capita CO2 emission with vigorous production of and investment in New
& Renew energy, as well as promoting sustainability with high-value creation by green tourism
Actions focusing on creating new growth engines by incubating green industry in Gangwon, Jeolnam, Jeju;
on strengthening core competency with aggressive RnD and networking in high-tech industry in Jeolbuk

21. Conclusion
Local policy actions for green growth are being differentiated reflecting local
identity and characteristics, although some actions related to high-tech and
cutting-edge business still seem to be far from reaching those goals.
Various examples of locally-specific policy actions following the national GG plan,
but many of local actions planned still focusing on developing technology and
incubating industries
Need to adopt more local actions to enlarge ecological restoration & biotope
conservation, green buildings and new transport systems, which are sometimes more
cost-effective and easy to reach the goal of sustainability
Need to adopt more local actions to manage energy demand and facilitate
incentive/support systems in parellel with active investment in New & Renewable Energy
Various green tech RnD and business incubation actions related to the “Leading
Industry Promotion” project (by MKE) in almost of the Province/Metropolitan
Need to adopt a long-range view of policy resoluteness, to sustain continuous supports
toward outcome creation in the remote future
This study provides a recent trend of local policy actions for green growth in
Korea with summarizing the Local Action Plans by the 16 Prov/Metro Gov’nt
Next steps in 2012 to be performed based on more up-to-date and detailed
planning & performance information so as to provide further analytical findings
and practical suggestions.

22. Thanks for Attention
2012 ICLEI Global Forum on Sustainable Development
“Successful Cases and A Search for the Future Strategy toward SD”
Welcome questions and suggestions on this presentation.
Email. dujeon@krila.re.kr
Phone. +82-2-3488-7375
Mobile. +82-10-4310-8928