Problem overview:

     Framework for coordination: Environmental administration of governmental agencies have been realized as inefficient due to the fact that there are many agencies looking over environmental issues and the jurisdiction of power for each agency is unclear.

     Policies and measures: In the light of that realization, the Korean government has established an environmental institution know as Environmental Police/Inspector to alleviate the inefficacy and inefficiency of the system.

Background:

      Role and assessment of policy measures and the process of forming a national vision

      In Korea, although economic instruments are being introduced into many areas of environmental management, command and control measures were never neglected. As one of the C&C measures, a strengthened environmental police (or inspector) system is being seriously considered in Korea. It is very important regarding that the enforcement of environmental laws and regulations are always the top priority in all environmental policy issues.

      In Korea, a special judicial police official system is adopted for forestry, maritime administration, tax government monopoly, military police, etc. These are improvised by the Act on the Judicial Police. Ministry of Environment has 934 staff members designated as special judicial police. Environmental police, when narrowly defined, includes those designated as officials for guiding and monitoring pollution sources, public service staff for water system monitoring, etc. It should be noted that they are never referred to as police despite of their de fact police roles.

      At present, the jurisdictions over environmental issues are dispersed among many agencies of central government and local governments. Present performance of local governments and central agencies regulatory activities are far from satisfactory. An environmental police system with strengthened organization and clearer jurisdiction, as being considered by the government, would help improve the efficacy and efficiency of environmental administration greatly.

      The Ministry of Environment considers to create a specialized regulatory body to effectively control the pollution. It is asked that a new full-fledged environmental police or environmental inspector system is needed to be created under MOE. The idea is to overcome the inefficiencies and potential biases of local governments and duplication/complication of jurisdiction among authorities. The role of regulating and monitoring staff of local branch of MOE is to be strengthened via creating an environmental police/inspector directorate within MOE or creating a separate environmental police/inspector bureau under MOE. It is expected to eliminate duplication and complication related to environmental regulations.