South Korea to Reform Environmental Review Procedures to Boost Regional Development

South Korea's environment minister, Kwak Kyul-ho, announced that the government will reform environmental review procedures that have been criticized for delaying regional development projects. The changes aim to balance environmental concerns with the needs of the construction industry, which accounts for a significant portion of the country's gross domestic product. The reform is part of the government's efforts to address plummeting construction orders and their impact on the economy.

Key Takeaways:

• The current environmental review procedures will be reformed to allow developers to determine if they can start work on projects or not, saving time and energy.
• A national environmental evaluation map will be completed to classify the country into five categories, with areas in the first and second classes being restricted from development.
• The government aims to preserve the Demilitarized Zone as an ecological haven and will put up private property for sale to develop the region into a tourist attraction.
• The reform is expected to reduce controversy and delay in development projects, particularly in the construction sector.
• The government will consider the environmental impact before projects are fully underway, rather than after they have started.
• The ministry is making efforts to preserve the DMZ as a unique ecological haven, separate from the rest of North and South Korea.
• The government plans to sell private property in the DMZ to developers to boost tourism and economic growth in the region.

Statistics:

• The construction sector accounts for a sizeable portion of South Korea's gross domestic product.
• Construction orders have plummeted in recent months, impacting the entire economy.
• The national environmental evaluation map will classify the country into five categories, with areas in the first and second classes being restricted from development.
• The DMZ covers an area of approximately 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) wide and 155 miles (250 kilometers) long.

Sources:

• "South Korea to Reform Environment Review Procedures" by Yonhap, November 24, 2003.