Answer: Formally known as the Republic of Korea, modern South Korea was formed as a consequence of the agreements between the Soviet Union, which previously controlled North Korea, and the United States after World War II.
After the Second World War, the society of South Korea began a massive shift from agrarian to industrial, which was only accelerated by the Korean War. Prior to the war between North and South Korea, 75% of the population was living in rural areas, which is drastically different than the current state of South Korea in which 82% of the population lives in urban areas. Most South Koreans have settled around major population centers in the northwest city of Seoul-Incheon and southeast city of Daegu-Busan.
Once a fledgling industrial nation, South Korea’s economy grew 10% each year through the 1980s and 1990s. Today, South Korea is a manufacturing and export powerhouse, as it is the world’s 11th largest gross domestic producer. The country is comprised mainly of a large peninsula and numerous islands located off the peninsula’s western and southern coasts. The ecosystems of South Korea include mountainous regions, coastline, tropical forests and deciduous forests.
Environmental Issues of South Korea
Industry and manufacturing in South Korea skyrocketed in the 1970s under the rule of dictator Park Chunhee. Unfortunately, during this time, maintaining an adequate protection of the country's ecosystems was a remote second priority as compared to improving the economic development of the nation. In particular, air quality in Seoul and the surrounding province significantly deteriorated throughout this period of rapid industrialization.
As South Korea became a developed economy on the world stage, the country’s priorities have changed. In fact, the South Korean government has passed numerous environmental laws, of which include restrictions on both green belts and emission that have dramatically improved Seoul’s air quality. Despite this improvement, South Korea remains one of the most polluted countries in the world in terms of air quality. In fact, a study conducted in February of 2017 found that South Korea had the second worst air quality of all advanced nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development1. One of the biggest problems South Korea faces is understanding whether this air pollution is a result of their own production or is carried by the wind from neighboring countries. A recent study by NASA has found that over half of the air pollution in South Korea is a result of emissions from both industrial sites and power plants present within the country; however, the rest of this air pollution was found to originate from other countries.
To address these concerns, South Korean President Moon Jae-in is currently overseeing a find dust task force in an effort to alert residents of Seoul of fine dust particle levels to remain indoors.
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