Minister Myung Ja Kim interviewed with Korea Herald on June 1 on the environmental policies and issues. The main topics of this interview include: fostering environmental industry such as increasing investment, taking a leading role in international environmental cooperation such as participating in Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting, doubling efforts to reduce green house gases, promoting environmentally-friendly construction process, cooperating with civic groups, hosting green World Cup events, and preserving Dong River ecosystem. The following is the full text of the interview. The international market for the environment industry, valued at $523.7 billion in 2000, is projected to grow 3 to 5 percent annually to reach $586.2 billion this year and $694.2 billion in 2005, the Korean Ministry of Environment says. The nation's top environment policymaker says no government should overlook the growth potential of the environment industry - not only for the sake of the economy, but also preservation of the environment itself. "The Korean government endeavors to develop the environment sector as one of the nation's strategic industries in the 21st century," Minister of Environment Kim Myung Ja said in an interview with The Korea Herald. Minister Kim pledged that Korea, as an emerging economic power, will try to play an increasingly important role in international efforts to protect the environment, including those related to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Convention on Biological Diversity. The 57-year-old Kim, who has been in office for nearly three years, is the longest-serving female minister in Korean history, and some say that is for a good reason. Under her leadership, the Environment Ministry was selected as the best ministry this year for the second straight year by the policy evaluation commission under the Prime Minster. Ministry officials also say Kim, a former professor of Sookmyung Women's University, was a force behind special legislation protecting Nakdong River, as well as the law on preservation of three major rivers, including the Geum and Yeongsan rivers. Following are excerpts from an interview with Minister Kim. Question: The environment industry is expected to become a growth industry of the 21st century. What is Korea's current position in the sector? What measures can be taken to develop the environment sector into a strategic industry? Answer: The Korean environment market was estimated at 7.8 trillion won in 1999, which was only one-thirteenth of the information technology sector. However, I have no doubt that the 21st century will be the century of environment. Korea's environment industry has not been competitive because key players are small and medium-sized firms. But the country is strong in sewage treatment and dust-processing fields in terms of both technology and price competitiveness. Korea has to develop the environment industry not only to foster it as a new strategic industry in light of fast expansion of the world's environment industry market, but also to meet the people's demand for a better environment. The Korean government is jointly developing a blueprint strategy for the development of the environment industry, with eight other ministries, including the Environment Ministry. Domestically, the government raised a 13-billion-won environment venture fund to promote venture firms in the environment sector, and extended 7.6 billion won in financial assistance to companies. It is also exploring overseas market in China, where it is operating an environment technology exhibition center in Beijing, and Southeast Asian countries. This year, we will focus our policy on boosting the competitiveness of the industry. To this end, we increased investment in the development of core environment technologies to 70 billion won from 50 billion won in 2001. Also, we will provide diverse assistance to help companies export environment technologies and products. Q: It is about time that Korea takes a leading role in the environment field on the international stage. What are some efforts the ministry is making in this regard? A: In fact, the international community has called on Korea, as a member of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the 13th largest economy, to play a bigger role in this field. In response, we are making extensive efforts to meet their expectations. For one, we spearheaded the establishment of the tripartite environment ministers' talks of Korea, China and Japan, which has been serving as the supreme coordinating body for the three neighboring nations. We are also implementing a "knowledge partnership," through which we share Korea's environment technologies with Vietnam and the Philippines, and will expand the project to other countries. We are also reinforcing bilateral cooperation with Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands, while taking steps to establish cooperative networks with Italy and Tunisia. Meanwhile, we are participating in numerous international treaties for environment preservation. They include the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Convention on Biological Diversity. In addition, we extended $1.4 million to the Global Environment Fund. The World Summit for Sustainable Development will be held in South Africa this August. Making the most of this opportunity, we will actively step up our participation in international cooperation on the environment. Q: Governments and businesses around the world are said to be preparing for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. How does Korea stand on this issue? A: I understand that countries, in particular European nations, are striving to enact the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at an early date. Advanced nations have wrapped up their plans to cut pollution. And it is expected that the plans for developing nations to join in the convention will be prepared during the eighth general assembly in India in October. The Korean government prepared the second pan-governmental action plans for the convention effective for 2002 to 2004, and set detailed plans accordingly. As part of the plans, we are doubling our efforts to cut greenhouse gases in every sector, including industry, transportation, households and agriculture, as well as waste management. Korea fixed and is carrying out 83 tasks in 5 major fields, including traffic reduction, expansion of public transportation powered by low-emission fuel, and compulsory insulation of new houses. The Environment Ministry is making a cost-benefit analysis on greenhouse gas reduction based on various scenarios of greenhouse gas production levels. We also have set up an advisory committee of 20 experts from academia, research institutes, and private experts. In the private sector, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry launched a special task force on the convention, which takes charge in surveying industries on the issue and expanding investment in technologies that cut greenhouse gases. The government will develop various action programs for local governments, civic groups, and people to follow, and help them build partnerships to execute such programs. To raise public awareness of the convention, the ministry conducted a presentation tour in local areas from April 27 to May 10. Q: The government is taking steps to enact a special law to introduce an "emission permission system," in order to improve air quality in Seoul metropolitan area. What effect do you think this system will have? A: The Environment Ministry decided to introduce the new system, in which polluters are allotted with amounts of pollutants they can produce, because the present system, in which we regulate emissions after they are produced, has had limited effect in cutting pollution. Given this, pre-pollution prevention will better ensure that pollution stays within permissible limits. With this system, we aim to improve the air quality in the Seoul metropolitan area to meet the average level of OECD nations by 2012. To this end, we are ready to follow other successful examples in the U.S. and elsewhere. The new system entails the management of transportation demand, development of zero- and low-emission vehicles, and reinforcement of the permissible emission levels for new vehicles. We will also introduce "pollution credits," which enable polluters to trade emissions rights while keeping a cap on the overall pollution level. Q: You, as head of the Environment Ministry, will face a dilemma between following the logic of development and that of preservation. There have been heated debates over such cases in connection with the construction of a tunnel through Mt. Bukhan, which is a national park in northern Seoul. What is your position on this? A: The Environment Ministry gave a green light to the construction project after five rounds of discussions over 12 different routes with environmental civic groups for the past four years. We reached the decision after thorough consideration of the areas to be affected by construction, and the impact from vehicle emissions, as well as the importance of the road. We requested relevant authorities responsible for the project to restore the areas that are inevitably damaged in the construction process. We also asked them to take part in post-construction management for up to 10 years after the tunnel is completed. We expect the parties involved will come up with a compromise, given that the Buddhist community, representing temple located on the mountain, and civic groups are holding talks with relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Construction and Transportation. Q: It is essential that the government cooperate with civic groups to better protect the environment. What measures has the ministry taken to assist and cooperate with civic groups? A: The government's single-handed efforts have only limited effect in preserving and improving the environment. Environmental civic groups' role is crucial to reaching our common goal. To collect extensive opinions and set up cooperative networks, we established a policy council of environmental civic groups with 22 major non-governmental organizations. Also, we set up a policy council of religious groups with 13 organizations coming from seven religious sects. In addition, we launched a coalition of 20 major women's organizations in the living environment movement. The coalition has made a huge contribution to environment protection through water conservation and household waste reduction drives. The government provided 1.15 billion won in financial assistance to seven civic groups last year. This year, we will provide 1.9 billion won, as well as 600 million won in another fund for civic groups. Q: Several days have passed since the World Cup finals started. The Environment Ministry has made many efforts to make the world's largest sporting event a success. What are some ways the public can help? A: The government has made all-out efforts to host an environment-friendly World Cup. For one thing, we put into service over 2,000 natural gas buses to improve air quality in World Cup cities. We also introduced diesel fuel with a low sulfur level to gas stations in the Seoul metropolitan area, while working on forestation of landfill areas, and improvement of public toilets. We recruited "clean-up leaders" for World Cup stadiums, or groups of volunteers to clean World Cup venues. Throughout the international sports event, people need to cooperate in recycling waste, and take care to clean up the area near their seat and follow the no-smoking rule at stadiums. I urge people to actively participate in various efforts to realize an environment-friendly World Cup. They can do it by using public transportation and adhering to the odd-even day vehicle ban. Q: The government scrapped the plan to construct a dam on the Dong River in a scenic area of Gangwon Province. However, the environment in the area took a turn for the worse since withdrawal of the plan. What are some policy measures to correct this? A: Since the plan to construct a dam was scrapped in June 2000, the Dong River saw a rise in visitors and a surge of new facilities, including restaurants and lodging. The controversy over the dam construction in effect publicized the beauty of the river. About 225,000 people visited during the summer vacation (June to August) last year alone, and over 70 rafting companies rented out more than 500 boats. The river's eco-system was damaged, and the water clarity there has been downgraded in the last year. After the withdrawal of the plan, the government restricted people's access to a 71-sq.-km area along the river in December last year. It also is devising and implementing measures such as bans on visitors' entry to certain areas, and limiting the number of rafters per day. The government also arranged an advisory commission of the private sector and government, comprising residents in the area, civic groups, experts and officials. Based on the commission's recommendation, it designated a 111-sq.-km area along the river as a "special eco-system preservation zone" in March. To this end, the government is taking steps to purchase private property and construct sewage treatment facilities. (tkbyun@koreaherald.co.kr) By Byun Tae-kyung Staff reporter