2024, February 5

The presentation by Director Cho Ik-hyun provides an overview of the Overseas Projects of the Korea Environmental Corporation (K-eco). K-eco focuses on environmental policy systems, promoting nationwide air quality measurement services, remote monitoring of wastewater treatment plant effluent compliance, and engaging in Green Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and KOICA. The Korea Environmental Corporation, a sub-agency under the Ministry of Environment, operates with a budget of 2.2 trillion won, and its main areas include climate and air quality, resource circulation, water quality improvement, soil restoration, and groundwater conservation. The presentation also outlines Korea's ODA structure, emphasizing the government's commitment to doubling ODA by 2030. Notably, challenges and priorities in the areas of humanitarian aid, digital transformation, climate change response, and enhanced cooperation with international organizations are discussed, highlighting Korea's strength in ICT technology. The presentation concludes with insights into K-eco's initiatives in air quality, water management, and waste monitoring, emphasizing their collaboration with countries like Mongolia, Vietnam, and Malaysia to address climate crises and promote sustainable living environments.

AirKorea, presented by Deputy Director Jang Geon-woo of the Air Quality Policy Support Division, offers an overview of the country's air quality monitoring network. Operated by the Ministry of Environment, it utilizes the NAMIS AirKorea system, boasting 20 years of international-patented service. With a dense network of over 900 monitoring stations, it measures pollutants like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, fine dust, and ultrafine dust. The system, managed by both central and local governments, feeds vital data into the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Information System (NAMIS). AirKorea provides real-time nationwide air quality information, integrated air quality indices, pollution alerts, and statistics, fostering public awareness. Notably, it plans to patent the system and is a crucial source for South Korea's official air quality data, supporting statistical analysis, air quality alerts, and public awareness campaigns.

Introduced by Deputy Director Park Jeung-bae of the Water Quality Control Division, the Water Quality Total Management System (TMS) oversees pollution control. The SOOSIRO system monitors real-time pollution data remotely, installed at public sewage and wastewater outlets. The initiative addresses past issues of on-site visits and map-based inspections, establishing a scientific fee system and efficient pollution management. With 1,077 systems nationwide, 96.2% of water pollution is monitored. Since its 2008 implementation, water pollution has reduced by 53%. TMS plays a key role in generating administrative data, basic processing data, ensuring proper operation of measurement devices, supporting their operation, and monitoring measurement data. It enforces penalties based on legal limits, controls access to TMS-installed areas, and undergoes performance verification. The system is legally mandatory, with SMEs receiving partial installation support, while costs typically amount to around KRW 250 million. Industries obligated to install TMS are determined by wastewater treatment facility capacity, and data is partially disclosed quarterly, with real-time data remaining private.

Operational Overview of the Integrated Control Center for Operation Restrictions presented by Deputy Director Hong Hyo-jin of the Korea Environmental Corporation highlights the real-time monitoring and management of the vehicle operation restriction system for controlling high air pollution levels from aging vehicles. Currently implemented in the metropolitan area and nine regions, the system classifies nationwide vehicles into five grades for selective management, covering 500,000 low-pollution non-compliant vehicles. The operational system, interconnected nationally, collaborates with government agencies, achieving an 80% reduction in detected cases compared to the initial implementation. The demonstration of the center involves concentrated management of old vehicles during December to March, employing approximately 1,200 surveillance cameras nationwide, monitoring AirKorea data. The system classifies vehicles, monitors traffic, and displays detailed information on penalties, certification numbers, reduction measures, and violation lanes, with exceptions for livelihood-based and socioeconomically vulnerable individuals. The approach involves offering early disposal subsidies, incentives for purchasing eco-friendly vehicles, and imposing fines on those who continue to operate non-compliant vehicles. The policy remains flexible, considering potential improvements in emission grading standards initiated by the Ministry of Environment. While similar systems exist in Germany and France, Korea's export of this technology is currently unreported. The focus on rigorous winter management aims to address elevated fine dust levels during this period. The system's effectiveness, coupled with selective enforcement and support measures, strives to balance environmental and economic considerations, acknowledging the concerns and circumstances of different vehicle operators.

Wrapping up the World Bank internship session, Dr. Shin Ji-yeon will conduct tomorrow's presentation at the Songdo Seminar Room, having covered diverse topics such as K-ECO and climate change. The lectures provided insights into data generation and its formats, emphasizing the importance of data for those working with it. With expertise from various fields, the program's interdisciplinary approach was well-received, offering perspectives from agriculture to digital technology. While acknowledging Korea's case might not directly apply to other nations, there's a clear recognition of the necessity of digital technology for green growth. The communications team plays a vital role in disseminating project information and plans to improve the KGGTF newsletter layout. The communication website undergoes UX reviews to enhance its features, addressing concerns about information classification. The P&E team encourages interns to actively participate in creative initiatives and branding, highlighting the importance of shared knowledge. The M&E team emphasizes the complexity of data preprocessing and values specific project insights. Challenges and suggestions are actively discussed, preparing for online interactions with Korean teams. The internship's conclusion includes Q&A sessions, interviews, and future plans for team-based presentations, fostering a collaborative and knowledge-sharing environment.