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South Korea

Current Codes

Korea Building Design Criteria for Saving Energy
Country Specific Mandatory
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Monday, January 1, 2001
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Additional Code Information

Code Adoption & Change Process
History: 

South Korea began implementing building energy codes as a result of the 1970 oil crisis.  In 1977, it passed a code on insulation thickness, in 1979 it passed the Rational Energy Utilization Act (REUA), and in 1980 it established the Korean Energy Management Corporation (KEMCO), in order to manage further building energy codes.  The REUA was the accepted standard until 2001, when the first edition of the Buildint Design Criteria for Energy Saving (BDCES) was first passed.  Last updated in 2008, the BDCES combines old code standards with selected standards from five other countries' codes, simplified for easier implementation.  The BDCES covers a wide range of standards, and produces mandatory and recommended building standards.  During the permitting process, a buildier must achieve a 60 point score by implementing a certian amount of the required and recommended standards.  South Korea has also had a history of energy efficiency codes in the industrial sector, with a most recent goal of cutting its CO2 emissions in the industry sector 6% by 2020.

Source: 2009 PNNL Building Energy Codes Report

Economic Indicators
Government Type: 

republic

Climate Zone: 

temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter

Population: 

48,508,972 (July 2009 est.)

Unemployment Rate: 

3.2% (2008 est.)

Construction Activity: 

Total Private Households: 16,417,000
By Occupancy:
          o One Occupant: 3,298,000 (20.1%)
          o Two Occupants: 3,369,000 (22.5%)
          o Three Occupants: 3,443,000 (21%)
          o Four Occupants: 4,409,000 (26.9%)
          o Five or More Occupants: 1,230,000 (7.5%)

Source: 2006 Census

Projected Construction Rate: 

1.6% Household Increase (2006 - 2007)

GDP Per Capita: 

$27,600 (2008 est.)

Projected GDP Growth: 

2.2% (2008 est.)

Industrial Production Growth: 

2.2% (2008 est.)

Primary Exports: 

semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals

Primary Imports: 

machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics

Local Resources: 

coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential

Energy Data
Primary Energy Source: 

Petroleum: 50% (2004)

Energy Consumption: 

9.45 Quadrillion BTU (2006)

Energy Snapshot: 

With limited domestic energy resources, South Korea is almost entirely dependent on imports to meet its energy consumption needs. South Korea is the fifth-largest net importer of oil in the world, and a significant importer of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Oil makes up the greatest share of South Korea's total energy consumption, though its share has been declining gradually in recent years. Oil supplied 50 percent of South Korea’s total energy consumption in 2004, compared with 65 percent in 1994. This decline in oil’s share in consumption reflects faster growth in natural gas and to a lesser extent coal over the period. Coal is South Korea’s second-largest source, supplying 24 percent of primary energy consumption needs in 2004, followed by modest contributions from nuclear power (14 percent) and natural gas (12 percent). Hydropower and other renewable energy sources make up a small fraction of South Korea’s total energy consumption mix.

Source: EIA

Climate Concerns
CO2 Emissions: 

514.53 MMT CO2 (2006)

Green Building Initiatives

Local Revision and Green Codes:
Green Building Certification System

National Environmental Milestones and Strategies:
Korea National Basic Plan for Energy, 2008-2030

Building Sector Economic Incentives:
KEMCO Business Loan Program, 2005-2008
Tax Incentives for Energy Efficient Homes and Businesses

Mandatory, Up-to-Date Building Energy Code:
Building Design Criteria for Saving Energy
The 2008 BDCES is mandatory for all new buildings in South Korea, and contains a detailed set of mandatory and voluntary energy efficiency requirements.

Strengthening National Policies:
National Basic Plan for Energy, 2008-2030
The National Basic Plan for Energy is South Korea's national strategy to reduce energy consumption through codes, standards, and programs and outlines possibilities and goals.

Economic Incentives for Efficiency:
Tax Incentives for Energy Efficient Homes and Businesses
Tax breaks and lower interest rates for homeowners and businesses that use energy efficient buildings or make energy improvements.

Green Building Rating System:
Green Building Certification System
A performance based rating system for homes, offices, mixed use developments, and schools to evaluate and promote green building performace.

Based on the current status of building energy codes and policies, as well as potential for energy efficiency, BCAP recommends the following actions.  Also noted are states or countries that successfully employ the suggested action, and may be used as a model.  These suggestions are meant only to show opportunities for energy efficiency.  Please contact BCAP for more information or assistance.

Establish a Code Change and Update Process
South Korea already has a current building energy code, as well as national programs in place to help support the code and assist residents and tennants with energy efficiency.  The next step for the MKE is to develop an update and change cycle to the BDCES.  This will systematically ensure that the code stays current and incorporates the most recent advancements in building science.

Model State:
Florida
Florida has a regulatory code update process, managed by the Florida Building Comission (FBC).  Every three years the FBC updates the code in accordance with state guidelines.

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