Basel Convention

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Status of Ratification/Accession/Acceptance/Approval:	28.02.1994 (a)
Ratification/Acceptance of the Amendment to the Basel Convention:	Not yet as of 20.11.2002

Competent Authority	Focal Point
Management Division Wonju Regional Environmental Management Office 242-2 Myeongryun-dong Wonju-si, Gangwon-do, 220-947 tel: [phone] fax: [phone] Jurisdiction : Icheon-si, Yeoju-gun, Yangpyeong-gun, Gapyeong-gun in Gyeonggi-do, Gangwon-do(Excluding Taebaek-si), Chungju-si, Jecheon-si, Goesan-si, Eumseong-gun, Danyang-gun in Chungcheongbuk-do. Compliance Monitoring Division Nakdong River Environmental Management Office 104-3 Sinwol-dong, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, 641-722 tel: [phone] fax: [phone] Jurisdiction : Busan Metropolitan City, Ulsan Metropolitan City, Gyeongsangnam-do (Excluding Hadong-gun, Namhae-gun)	Waste Management Policy Division Ministry of Environment Government Complex Kwacheon 427-760 tel: [phone] fax: [phone] e-mail: [e-mail] web site: www.me.go.kr
The Republic of Korea has additional 5 Competent Authorities (Compliance Monitoring Divisions) for the following jurisdictions: Daejeon Metropolitan City, Chungcheongbuk-do (Excluding Chungju-si, Jecheon-si, Goesan-gun, Eumseong-gun, Danyang-gun), Chungcheongnam-do Gwangju Metropolitan City, Jeollanam-do, Hadong-gun and Namhae-gun in Gyeongsangnam-do, Jeju-do Seoul Metropolitan City, Incheon Metropolitan City, Gyeonggi-do (Excluding Icheon-si, Yeoju-gun, Yangpyeong-gun, Gapyeong-gun) Daegu Metropolitan City, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Taebaek-si in Gangwon-do Jeollabuk-do A complete list could be obtained from the Focal Point.

National Definition

Article 2.1 of the “Act Relating to Transboundary Movement of Wastes and Their Disposal” defines “waste” subject to transboundary movement control as the substance or object listed in Annexes to Basel Convention and the substance to be controlled in accordance with bilateral, multilateral and regional agreements pursuant to the Article 11 of the Basel Convention. Article 2 of the Presidential Decree of the “Act Relating to Transboundary Movement of Wastes and their Disposal” defines “ hazardous waste” as the wastes listed in Annexes I and II of the Basel Convention and the Red and Amber Tier wastes determined by OECD. The list of hazardous wastes was notified by the Ministry of Environment (MoE), and the amended list was notified in 998 to incorporate wastes listed in Annex VIII to the Basel Convention. The Red and Amber Tier wastes determined by OECD are additionally controlled for the purpose of transboundary movement. In Republic of Korea there are no wastes other than those pursuant to Art. 1 (1)a and/or Art. 1 (1)b of the Basel Convention that require special consideration when subjected to transboundary movement.

Data* on the Generation and Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes** and Other Wastes*** in 2000 (as reported)

		Quantities (in metric tonnes)
Generation	Total amount of hazardous wastesgenerated	2 756 984^1)
	Total amount of other wastesgenerated	16 949 870 ^2)
Transboundary Movement	Total amount of hazardous wastesand other wastesexported	60
	Total amount of hazardous wastesand other wastesimported	17 380

^* Figures are rounded to the nearest integer.

** Covers wastes under Art. 1 (1)a (Annex I: Y1-Y45) and Art. 1 (1)b.

*** Covers wastes under (Annex II: Y46-Y47).

1) Consists of total amount of hazardous wastes generated under Art. 1 (1)a (Annex I: Y1-Y45): 2 190 463 mt + total amount of hazardous wastes generated under Art. 1 (1)b: 566 521 mt. There was a change in waste classification in 1994.

2) Amount refers to the total amount of wastes collected from households (Y46).

Restrictions on Transboundary Movement	Amendment to the Basel Convention The amendment to the Basel Convention (Decision III/1) has been implemented in Republic of Korea. The export of hazardous wastes to non-OECD countries has been banned since July 1998.
	Restrictions on export for final disposal and for recovery Republic of Korea restricts the export of hazardous wastes and other wastes for final disposal and for recovery. The relevant legislation is the “Act Relating to Transboundary Movement of Wastes and their Disposal” which entered into force in May 1994. Non-OECD countries would be covered by this Act. According to the Articles 6, 10 and 16 of this Act, the export, import and transit of hazardous waste is strictly prohibited unless prior written approval is obtained from the competent authority. Besides, the MoE has the authority to limit or ban the export and import of specific wastes which may be of significant impact on human health or the environment when being considered to be necessary. There is no differentiation between final disposal and recovery in granting permission of transboundary movement of waste.
	Restrictions on import for final disposal and for recovery Republic of Korea restricts the import of hazardous wastes and other wastes for final disposal and for recovery. The relevant legislation is the “Act Relating to Transboundary Movement of Wastes and their Disposal” which entered into force in May 1994. There is no restriction on the country or region of origin regarding import of hazardous wastes, while the MoE has the authority to ban or limit the import of specific wastes when being considered to be necessary. According to the Articles 6, 10 and 16 of this Act, the export, import and transit of hazardous waste is strictly prohibited unless prior written approval is obtained from the competent authority. Besides, the MoE has the authority to limit or ban the export and import of specific wastes which may be of significant impact on human health or the environment when being considered to be necessary. There is no differentiation between final disposal and recovery in granting permission of transboundary movement of waste.
	Restrictions on transit Republic of Korea restricts transit of hazardous wastes and other wastes. Prior consent is the only restriction on the transit of wastes.

Reduction and/or Elimination of Hazardous Waste Generation	National strategies/policies The order of priority in the national waste management strategy is: a) reduction of the amount of wastes, b) promoting of re-use and recycling, c) safe incineration, and d) sanitary landfill.
	Legislation, regulations and guidelines Article 24.1 of the “Waste Management Act” prescribes that the generators of industrial waste shall reduce the amount of waste generated. The generators of more than certain amount of industrial waste shall comply with the Guideline of the Reduction of Industrial Wastes (Public Notice by the MoE and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, 23 December 1996) pursuant to Article 24.4. Pre-treatment, such as incineration and crushing, is required for kinds of waste. In addition, the use of disposable goods and excessive packaging is regulated in accordance with Article 15 of the “Act Relating to Promoting Resource Saving and Recycling”.
	Economic instruments/ initiatives Volume based waste fee system has been in place since 1995 to facilitate reduction of household waste and separation of recyclable wastes from non-recyclable wastes. Deposit-refund system for recyclable products and charge system for non-recyclable products is in effect.
	Measures taken by industries/waste generators Industries and waste generators are making efforts to minimize the generation of wastes both to cut down the financial burden of their disposal and to comply with the Public Notice by the MoE and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, 23 December 1996. The MoE has verified 116 manufacturers as having successfully reduced generation of wastes. Some retailers, such as department stores, have signed a voluntary agreement with the MoE that they will steadily reduce the use of disposable goods, and some fast food restaurants have decided not to use them.

Transboundary Movement Reduction Measures

National strategies/policies Transboundary movement of hazardous wastes is strictly prohibited without prior written permission from the competent authority. No permission for export is issued without consent from importing country.

Disposal/ Recovery Facilities

Disposal facilities Sudokwon Landfill, 58 Baekseokdong, Seo Gu, Incheon City, operated by Sudokwon Landfill Management Corporation (SLMC) under MoE, sanitary landfill (D5); and Kunsan Specified Waste Treatment Facility, 1585 Sorvongdong, Kunsan City, operated by Environmental Management Corporation (EMC) under MoE, specified waste landfill and incineration plant (D5, D10). 410 landfills and 15 443 incinerators for household and non-hazardous industrial wastes were in operation by local governments or private companies in 1999. Private companies operated 60 incinerators and 7 landfills for specified wastes, which are considered as hazardous waste pursuant to the Waste Management Act and EMC operated 4 landfills and 1 incinerator. Recovery/recycling/re-use facilities 22 recovery facilities are operated by KORECO under MoE. Out of 1647 recycling business, 1102 produce recycled goods and the rest recycle materials through use as fuel, etc. local governments also operate pre-treatment facilities. Sources of information on recovery facilities could be obtained from: Korea Resource Recovery and Re-utilization Corporation (KORECO), 24-5, Yoidodong, Youngdeungpo-Gu, Seoul, 150-010 or at www.koreco.co.kr.

Bilateral, Multilateral or Regional Agreements

OECD agreement concerning Red and Amber Tier wastes is in effect since December 1996.

Technical Assistance and Training Available

The available sources are: National Institute of Environmental Research, Kyungseodong, Seo Gu, Incheon City; Korea Environment Institute, 613-2, Bulgwangdong, Eunpyung-Gu, Seoul; Environmental Management Corporation, 4-15, Nonhyundong, Kangnam-Gu, Seoul; and Korea Resource Recovery and Re-utilization Corporation, 24-5, Yoidodong, Youngdeungpo-Gu, Seoul.

Basel Convention

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