South Korea faces environmental policy and data management challenges

South Korean lawmakers are raising concerns regarding the management of environmental charges and air pollution data. National Assembly member Eo Gi-gu reported that the collection rate for environmental improvement charges—levied on owners of aging diesel vehicles to cover pollution costs—has remained below 30% for three consecutive years. In 2025, the collection rate was 29.7%, with Seoul recording the lowest rate at 17.7%. Eo emphasized the need for policies that link charge collection with incentives for transitioning to eco-friendly vehicles.

Separately, lawmaker Lee Yong-woo highlighted significant inefficiencies in how the government manages air pollutant emission data. An analysis of approximately 3,000 data items from 60,000 businesses revealed that roughly 40% of the information is redundant across five different management systems. This lack of integration prevents effective monitoring and creates administrative burdens for both businesses and local government officials. While the government plans to develop an integrated platform by 2031, critics note that current budget allocations for the necessary standardization and research phases are insufficient.