Critical reviews of Korea's EIP Projects and Suggestions for Amendments to Laws

Industrial complexes have been regarded as important tools of industrial policy in Korea. In the process of industrial development, some industrial complexes have been blamed as major causes of environment-related problems. In response to social and environmental problems, researchers and policy makers have tried to introduce a new type of industrial complexes, which requires environmental performance and economic efficiency at the same time. As a result, ‘Eco-industrial Park(EIP)’ projects have already started up by the central government of Korea. The primary object of EIP approaches based on industrial ecology is to integrate firms' production systems and environmental management by forming networks of mutually beneficial symbiosis that mimic natural ecosystem. The government has already developed 5 EIPs and is now planning on developing more EIPs across the nation. Recently ever-first EIP Hub and Spoke strategies have been introduced in Korea, ending up in a 8 Hub EIPs. Throughout the EIP developments since the policy started, I came to know that there have been some issues and problems in the pre-existing national EIP development projects in terms of law and policy. Throughout years of experiences and researches, several important problems in recycling of resources have been exposed. Among those problems are ① Securing waste information and improving of waste database, ② Spatial restrictions of EIP Projects, ③ Lack of motivation to participate in symbiotic networks, ④ Policy banning recycling industries from locating in Industrial complexes, ⑤ Difficulties in linking to the regionally based recycling network. To solve those problems we can use several strategies. But when it comes to laws and policies in particular, revisions of these acts, ① Waste Control Act, ② Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources, ③ Act on the Promotion of Industrial Clusters and Plant Establishments, ④ Act on the Promotion of Change into Environmentally Friendly Industrial Structure, are crucial for the further development of the current EIP projects. Besides changes in these laws, basically a special law(for example, Act on Assistance for Industrial Symbiosis) dealing exclusively with industrial complexes can be another option in the long run. Also a regional-based recycling system needs to be introduced into Korea's EIP projects at the moment. These trials can be much of help with shrinking EIP projects and waste exchange activities leading to Korean version of EIPs and cyclical society.