Country profile

Republic of Korea

The AI Policy Radar tracks 2 climate instruments in the Republic of Korea, each checked against the source it cites and dated.

Instruments tracked: 2
Most advanced stage: In force
Last verified: 4 Oct 2026

In force 2

Tracked instruments

Net-zero / target lawIn forcesince 25 Mar 2022

Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth for Coping with Climate Crisis

Korea's Carbon Neutrality Act sets carbon neutrality by 2050 as the national vision and a 2030 target of at least 35% below 2018 levels. After a 2024 Constitutional Court ruling that the Act lacked targets for 2031–2049, the National Assembly passed an amendment on 26 August 2026 setting reduction ranges for 2035, 2040 and 2045.

Legal reference Act No. 18469 (24 Sep 2021), amended by Act No. 20514 (22 Oct 2024); amendment passed 26 Aug 2026 (promulgated 8 Sep 2026)

Checked against Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, Republic of Korea (press release, 26 Aug 2026) · 4 Oct 2026

Emissions trading systemIn forcesince 2015

Korea Emissions Trading Scheme (K-ETS)

The K-ETS launched in 2015 as East Asia's first nationwide mandatory ETS and covers 813 of Korea's largest emitters. Its fourth phase began in 2026 under an allocation plan approved in November 2025 that sets a cap of 2.5 billion tCO2e for 2026–2030, introduces a market stability reserve and raises the share of auctioned allowances.

Legal reference Act on the Allocation and Trading of Greenhouse Gas Emission Allowances and its Enforcement Decree

Checked against International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP) · 4 Oct 2026

In the Data Hub

1.5%Largest national fossil CO₂ emitters, 2024 · South KoreaGlobal Carbon Project, Global Carbon Budget 2025 (national emissions)
10.69 USD/tCO₂eAllowance prices in emissions trading systems · Korea — K-ETSInternational Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP), Allowance Price Explorer

Briefings

Working on the Republic of Korea?

Request a short written briefing: the instruments that apply, the dates that matter and the questions still open, cited line by line.

Request a briefing Compare with another country