Sejong, September 6 - On September 1, the Ministry of Environment (Minister Han Wha-jin) held a joint seminar with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) at KEITI Main Hall in Seoul. The conference is to publicize the global trend of environmental deregulation to South Korea and to share South Korea's environmental deregulation policies with the international community. The seminar was attended by the OECD regulatory experts and stakeholders, including universities, economic organizations, and civil societies, to discuss improving environmental policies. 

The seminar began with an opening address by Lee Yeong-gi, Deputy Minister for Planning and Coordination, and congratulatory remarks by Elsa Pilichowshki, Director of Public Governance of the OECD. Then followed were presentations by four experts under the theme of "Environmental Regulations Innovation" and a group discussion. Yola Thurer, Junior Policy Analyst of the OECD Regulatory Policy Division, made her presentation on the "Trend of international environmental regulatory policy and exemplary cases." She emphasized the need to improve the quality of regulatory decision-making through regulatory impact assessment, consider non-regulatory methods, and design flexible environmental regulations with room for innovation. She also strongly proposed regular monitoring and reviews of the current policies so that innovative technologies can be applied to those policies. 

Next was the presentation from Florentin Blanc, Senior Policy Analyst of the OECD Regulatory Policy Division, on the topic of "How to implement environmental policies better." He proposed focusing on core issues and subjects and managing uncertainties rather than trying to enforce unwarranted regulatory policies. Enrico Botta, the Green Growth Coordinator of the OECD, gave his presentation on "Environmental policy design for green growth." He stressed that market-based policies are the most effective for controlling external environmental factors. If such policies are not applicable, introducing flexible policies that can alleviate economic weight can stimulate corporate green innovation. Choi Han-chang, Director of the Ministry's environmental regulatory division, gave his presentation titled "Plan for environmental regulatory innovation." In his presentation, he said South Korea's environmental regulatory innovation would induce civilian innovation and boost policy implementation while firmly maintaining environmental policy objectives.

The final part of the event was a group discussion hosted by Lee Chang-hoon, President of the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI), where the presenters and experts deliberated on the direction of environmental policy innovation. Online participants were given chances to ask questions via a video conference program.

Lee Yeong-gi, Deputy Minister for Planning and Coordination, said, "The Ministry of Environment plans to improve the current environmental regulatory policies to meet the international standards. We will improve environmental deregulation by sharing and discussing our policy with international experts and stakeholders."

Contact: Na Wook-jong, Deputy Director

Planning and Coordination Bureau / +82-(0)44-201-7582

Foreign Media Contact: Chun Minjo(Rachel)

+82-(0)44-201-6055 / rachelmchun@korea.kr