Ever since the IMF crisis in Korea, there seems to be an increasing trend of the recycling industries as revealed in the statistics by the Korea Resources Recovery & Reutilization Corporation for the registered and approved waste recycling businesses in the year 2001.

According to the statistics, the recycling market for the industry wastes in Korea has increased about 2.8 times, from 1.4 trillion won in 1998 to 3.9 trillion won as of 2001. Also, the number of the full scale operation recycling industries reached 2,447, which is about 1.5 times increase from 1,568 industries in 1998.

The reason for this dramatic increase in growth of the recycling industries can be contributed to the government initiative, such as providing funds for the technological development or startup of new recycling businesses. Another factor is the people's increased attention for the recycling industries after the IMF crisis.