Dynamic Korea Clean Korea

The World Cup soccer finals had been successful and environmentally friendly, and the national image of dynamic and clean Korea is on the rise, according to the Report on Green World Cup and Post World Cup Mater Plan published by the Ministry of Environment (MOE) on July 16, 2002.

This report presented four major environmental accomplishments during World Cup Games in the 10 host cities: improvement of air quality, maintenance of a clean and pleasant urban environment, waste reduction from stadiums, and the citizens'' active participation.

Improvement in Air Quality in Host Cities

First, air quality in host cities has improved compared to the same period in previous years. Particulate Matters and ozone in Seoul were reduced from 81 to 63 micro gram/m3/day (22% reduction) and 26 to 23 ppb(11.5% reduction) respectively.

The report analyzes that the increased numbers of Compressed Natural Gas(CNG) buses greatly contribute to the reduction of air pollution emissions. As of July 4, total 2,046 CNG buses, including 803 in Seoul, are being operated. Thanks to operating these CNG buses, Particulate Matters emitted from intracity buses reduced from 382 to 307 tons(19.6%) and nitrogen oxide from 11,014 to 9,329 tons(15.3%) compared to the same period in previous years. Also, Odd-Even Driving Restriction has been implemented and the supply of Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel has increased, both contributed to reducing air pollutants.


Clean and Pleasant Urban Environment

Second, a clean and pleasant urban environment has been maintained during the World Cup games nationwide, especially near stadiums and places where the cheering crowd gathers. In order to keep the host cities clean, MOE applied a "Clean Maintenance Responsibility" scheme for the owners of land and buildings to take responsibilities to clean up wastes in their properties, and has been operating 231 cleaning teams in 10 host cities.

In addition, Ministry of Environment has implemented afforestation programs in the cities. 6 landfill sites around the Seoul stadium had transformed into 3,465 square kilometers of World Cup Park, more than 36 million trees have been planted since 2000, 1,800 kilometers of flowerbeds have been raised and rivers have been restored and managed in a more ecological manner. MOE also has endeavored to maintain public washrooms in good conditions.


Dynamic Korea, Clean Korea

Korean World Cup stadiums were also kept clean. MOE designated Clean-up Time and has shown a one-minute video ''Dynamic Korea, Clean Korea'' to encourage the crowds to clean up the gathering places after each game. As a result of these efforts and the citizens'' active participation, cleaning-up has become customary practices that more than 90 percent of crowds have been taking part in. In addition, crowds in more than 400 street cheering sites, including Seoul City Hall Plaza and Gwanghwamun, have also voluntarily cleaned the places where they have stayed.

These voluntary clean-up activities, Korean''s dynamism and orderliness have impressed the people worldwide. News and media in the world, such as BBC and CNN, reported and appraised our passionate and orderly cheering and outstanding etiquette to clean up the streets. The Korea Herald on June 26 reported that "displaying to the world an exemplary show of order, the crowds politely picked up and disposed of every scrap of paper and garbage immediately after the final whistle".

W aste Reduced in Major Stadiums

Third, waste collected from the stadiums after each game has dramatically reduced. Total waste from 10 World Cup Stadiums in 2002 has reduced from 181.3 tons to 104.2 tons(42.5% reduction) compared to that of Confederation Cup Game in 2001. To reduce waste, MOE has limited the use of disposable goods such as vinyl balloons. As a result, 80% of waste from vinyl reduced. In addition, smoking in World Cup stadiums has vanished thanks to MOE''s campaign to restrict smoking in those places.

Citizens'' Voluntary Participation

Fourth, citizens'' participation has been the key to realizing Green World Cup. 93.5% of citizens have abided by the Odd-Even Driving Restriction, and 4,900 citizens are acting as Clean-up Leaders who take the initiative cleaning-up activities. 90% of audiences in Stadiums and more than 20 million people in street cheering sites participated in cleaning-up as mentioned before.

The report on Green World Cup states that 2002 World Cup will be a model for hosting green and clean international sports events. After the World Cup, MOE will publish ''White Paper on Green World Cup'' for a guideline to host environmentally responsible events.

Post World Cup Plans

MOE will implement Post World Cup Master Plan for Environment in order to further improve environment and promote the national image of Dynamic Korea, Clean Korea.

MOE will continuously expand green areas by converting landfill site or wastewater treatment facilities into parks, planting trees, raising flowerbeds, and restoring rivers in a more ecological manner. World Cup Park will be the model for converting landfill and other facilities into ecological parks. MOE will replace all the intracity diesel-powered buses (about 20,000) with CNG buses by 2007 and vehicles other than intracity buses, such as mid-size buses and garbage trucks will also have CNG engines.

To further improve air quality to meet OECD average within the next 10 years in Seoul metropolitan and its vicinity, MOE is launching ''Blue Sky 21'' program which will introduce Total Emission Load Permit system in each locality.

More importantly, MOE will systemize the citizens'' voluntary actions for cleaning in order to realize Summer Vacation without Garbage and Green Asian Games. Street Leaders, similar to Clean-up Leaders for World Cup, will take initiative role to boost voluntary cleaning-up. In addition, environmentally sound cheering customs that were practiced in World Cup Games will be further implemented. For example, smoking in stadiums will be restricted and using disposable vinyl balloons in stadiums will be limited.

The national image of Dynamic Korea, Clean Korea that had already raised during World Cup Games will be progressively reproduced, and the brand image of Dynamic and Clean Korea will be used for global environmental marketing. Especially, Sino-Korea Eco-2 Project will help Korean companies to explore the rapidly growing Chinese environment market. In World Summit on Sustainable Development and other international events, Green World Cup and the national image of environmentally responsible Korea will be promoted.

For another Post Worldcup Plans, other environmental policies, such as watershed management in four major rivers, drinking water management, and enhanced Volume-based Waste Fee System will be implemented for a better environment.