• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.159-171
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• 2019

The cap-and-trade system against the air pollutants in the Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA), Korea has been implemented since 2008 and will be implemented other areas in Korea on 2020. In this study, to identify the outcome and effectiveness of the cap-and-trade system in the SMA, (1) the rate of change for NOx and SOx emissions, (2) differences between the real emission and allocated amount, and (3) the status of trading are reviewed. It was found that the NOx and SOx emissions from the sources under the cap-and-trade system decreased in the SMA but the reduction was mainly due to the reduction of fuel usage not related to the system. It was found that the average percentage of annual emission in the SMA to the allocated amount between 2008 and 2018 was 66.9% for NOx and 69.3% for SOx, respectively. It suggests that there was over allocation of the emission amounts. The average trading prices in the SMA were 0.193 $/kg for NOx and 0.128 $/kg for SOx, far lower than those in RECLAIM, 131.942 $/kg and 81.677 $/kg, respectively. It was suggested that (1) the cap system for NOx and SOx emissions should be implemented only for the area with high emission ratio from large point sources, (2) the trade system is not suitable for the effective implementation of the cap system, and (3) Korean government should not allow over allocation in order to ensure sound market function without delaying the introduction of technology.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-32
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• 2024

The emissions trading system stands as a pivotal climate policy in Korea, incentivizing abatement equivalent to 87% of total emissions (as of 2021). As the system likely has a far-reaching impact, it is crucial to understand how the real economic activity, energy sector, as well as environment would be influenced by its implementation. Employing a macroeconometric model, this paper is the first study analyzing the effects of the Korean emissions trading policy. It interconnects the Korean Standard Industrial Classification (Economy), Energy Balance (Energy), and National Inventory Report (Environment), enhancing its real-world explanatory power. We find that a 50% increase in emission permit price over four years results in a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions (-0.043%) and downward shifts in key macroeconomic variables, including real GDP (-0.058%), private consumption (-0.003%), and investment (-0.301%). The price increase in emission permit is deemed crucial for achieving greenhouse gas reduction targets. To mitigate transition risk associated with price shocks, revenue recycling using auction could ensure the sustainability of the economy. This study confirms the comparative advantage of expanded current transfers expenditure over corporate tax reduction, particularly from an economic growth perspective.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.45-64
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• 2022

Purpose - This paper examines South Korea's potential status as a carbon leakage country, and the level of risk posed by the Korean emissions trading scheme (ETS) for Korean industries. The economic effects of border carbon adjustments (BCAs) to protect energy-intensive Korean industries in the process of achieving the carbon reduction target by 2030 through the Korean ETS are also analyzed. Design/methodology - First, using the Korean Input-Output (IO) table, this paper calculates the balance of emissions embodied in trade (BEET) and the pollution terms of trade (PTT) to determine Korean industries' carbon leakage status. Analyses of the risk level posed by carbon reduction policy implementation in international trade are conducted for some sectors by applying the EU criteria. Second, using a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model, three BCA scenarios, exemption regulations (EXE), reimbursement (REB), and tariff reduction (TAR) to protect the energy-intensive industries under the Korean ETS are addressed. Compared to the baseline scenario of achieving carbon reduction targets by 2030, the effects of BCAs on welfare, carbon leakage, outputs, and trading are analyzed. Findings - As Korea's industrial structure has been transitioning from a carbon importing to a carbon leaking country. The results indicate that some industrial sectors could face the risk of losing international competitiveness due to the Korean ETS. South Korea's industries are basically exposed to risk of carbon leakage because most industries have a trade intensity higher than 30%. This could be interpreted as disproving vulnerability to carbon leakage. Although the petroleum and coal sector is not in carbon leakage, according to BEET and PTT, the Korean ETS exposes this sector to a high risk of carbon leakage. Non-metallic minerals and iron and steel sectors are also exposed to a high risk of carbon leakage due to the increased burden of carbon reduction costs embodied in the Korean ETS, despite relatively low levels of trade intensity. BCAs are demonstrated to have an influential role in protecting energy-intensive industries while achieving the carbon reduction target by 2030. The EXE scenario has the greatest impact on mitigation of welfare losses and carbon leakage, and the TAF scenario causes a disturbance in the international trade market because of the pricing adjustment system. In reality, the EXE scenario, which implies completely exempting energy-intensive industries, could be difficult to implement due to various practical constraints, such as equity and reduction targets and other industries; therefore, the REB scenario presents the most realistic approach and appears to have an effect that could compensate for the burden of economic activities and emissions regulations in these industries. Originality/value - This paper confirms the vulnerability of the Korean industrial the risk of carbon leakage, demonstrating that some industrial sectors could be exposed to losing international competitiveness by implementing carbon reduction policies such as the Korean ETS. The contribution of this paper is the identification of proposed approaches to protect Korean industries in the process of achieving the 2030 reduction target by analyzing the effects of BCA scenarios using a CGE model.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.108-117
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• 2013

Studies on the regulation and measurement of greenhouse gases(GHGs) emissions have been carrying out for global wanning. In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, many countries have been promoting the Emissions Trading System and projects of the Joint Implementation(JI) and Clean Development Mechanism(CDM). These country's GHG emissions have been measured calculation criteria based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) Guidelines. In order to respond to GHGs regulation, in each country, it is planing to build a Low-Carbon City. The system has been developed for calculating GHGs emissions from companies and institutions in their respective countries. However, the system can monitor the GHGs per city, has not been developed. In this paper, it is studied to design the User Interface and to develop integrated monitoring program for Low-carbon city. This program will make possible monitoring and management, statistics, and reports written by using each data in units of cities.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2019.11a
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• pp.50-51
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• 2019

Globally, South Korea is a country that has a lot of $CO_2$ emissions and has steadily increased its total greenhouse gas emissions since the 1990s. With the recent implementation of the carbon emission trading system in Korea, the importance of calculating $CO_2$ emissions of construction equipment is increasing, hence the need for accurate calculation of environmental penalties through allocating carbon emission rights. This study presents a methodology to predict the price of carbon credits using big data analysis method. This methodology is based on correlating and regression analysis of trends in carbon emission prices and search volumes. This study aims to support faster and more accurate budget calculations in the planning of the construction process based on the predicted price of carbon emission rights.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.489-522
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• 2015

According to Law on Allocation and Trading of GHG Allowances of 2013 in Korea as well as the 2014 National Master Plan for Korean Emissions Trading System, the System should be designed to minimize the change in the market positions of the affected firms. In this paper, we investigate how that principle might become ineffective by the ways of distributing allowances and applying different accounting methods using a Cournot duopoly model. Although the way of allocating allowances freely to firms combined with accounting them for having no values would minimize their market positions, it would not the most cost-effective way of GHG reduction since it does not provide financial market with accurate informations.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.46
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• pp.265-313
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• 2010

Kyoto Protocol is an international convention on concrete performance program for UNFCCC(United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), which regulate and prevent to global warming and officially came into effect on February 16, 2005. Kyoto flexible mechanisms, the agreed environmental system in March 1997 in the Third Conference of Parties in UNFCCC General Assembly, Emission Trading System(ETS), Clean Development Mechanism(CDM) and Joint Implementation(JI), are key policies related to environment. In advanced countries, greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced average 5.2% level compared to 1990 in total emissions during 2008-2012. World leading carbon market finished the trial on the EU ETS I greenhouse gas emissions trading system, EU ETS II is operated regularly after 2008. World Bank leads to make 'Prototype Carbon Fund(PCF)' in April 2004, which is the world first carbon fund and a representative public carbon fund type, World Bank operate various funds including present PCF. Thus, I would like to propose as follows in relation to this study: First, in the validity analysis of carbon funds, it would be needed to analyze the Emission Reduction Cost Efficiency(ERCE) of carbon. The ERCE is a break-even value which brings the Net Present Value(NPV) to zero. NPV approach is used among projects and it enables potential projects to be compared and evaluated the ERCE on the basis of the net present value of net future cash flows. Therefore, according to results of analysis, carbon funds should be developed and invested. Second, it would be necessary to allow of issuing bonds together with carbon funds, carbon finance etc. Third, carbon funds, it would be reasonable to have a relatively enough maturity in project and as a financial derivatives in the international financial markets, it is needed various types of transactions. Fourth, it would be needed to standardize the carbon emissions trading for more efficiently. Fifth, it would be necessary to establish and invest in various kinds of domestic and overseas global carbon funds, including governments, privates, governments and privates sectors. And it is also needed to establish the medium and long term plans for carbon funds. Sixth, it would be needed to foster the advanced trade mechanisms for carbon funds in the most effective ways. Finally, carbon funds should be used in harmony with international societies to reduce global warming as the social responsible investing funds and it should be contribute to sustainable development. In addition, it would seem that carbon funds should be studied on establishing the contributable standard of sustainable development in the future assignment.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.129-167
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• 2021

The emission trading system is an essential policy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and converting low-carbon society. EU ETS is a good benchmark that is ahead of Korea's emission trading system in terms of operating period and design know-how. Therefore, this study focused on the key design elements of EU ETS phase 4 such as total emission allowances issued (Cap), free allocation method, carbon leakage list, market stability reserve, and innovation supporting system. In addition, we analyzed the impact of key design elements and their changes during EU ETS Phase 1 to 4 on the design and operation of Korea emission trading system in the future. First of all, the expected impact on the design of Korea emission trading system is to increase three demands: preparing benchmark renewal plans, establishing criteria for selecting free allocation industries that reflect domestic industrial structure and characteristics and introducing two-stage evaluations for free allocation industries, and preparing specific plan to support innovation and industries using allowance auction revenues. The next three impacts on the operation of Korea emission trading system are the increased needs for objective and in-depth impact assessment of plan and amendments, provision of system stability and response opportunities by quickly confirming plan and amendments prior to the implementation, and coordination of the emission trading system governance and stakeholder participation encouragement.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.809-850
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• 2012

A linkage of emissions trading schemes among Korea, China and Japan demonstrates overall increase in gross domestic product (GDP). However, it also demonstrates reductions in household consumption, and the impact of integration could be very unbalanced between the countries. In particular, the reductions in domestic marginal costs are high in both Korea and Japan. Therefore, household consumptions in the two countries decrease despite increases in GDP because Korea and Japan will be purchasers of emissions rights. China, on the other hand, will experience the opposite. The unbalanced impacts on real household consumptions are intensified when emission credits are allocated via paid auctions instead of free allocation. This was demonstrated to be the case because the circumstances of three countries are intensified when using a paid emissions credit allocation scheme, and their differences could potentially hinder the cooperation between the three countries. Under the free allocation scheme, the emission trading schemes' unbalanced impacts on consumption could be mitigated, but unavoidable negative impacts of free allocation schemes are also serious. Based on the analysis results, Korea, China, and Japan will individually face complicated impacts if their carbon markets are integrated. Although the GDP of three countries will increase as a result of carbon market integration, the benefits of integration will surely be unbalanced, and the three countries will experience negative impacts in terms of actual consumption or employment. In particular, increases in income and consumption, reductions in employment, and energy dependence by credit purchasers (Japan and Korea) and production reduction and possibility of offshoring faced by revenue producing countries (China) could serve as a barrier to carbon market integration. To maximize the positive influences of carbon market integration while reducing the risks of negative side effects, the development and application of complimentary policy tools, such as import duties or discounts for emissions credits, are required.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2022

This study analyzes FCEV among measures to respond to climate change policies. In particular, it proposes alternatives to solve this problem in the trade industry, which relies on transportation sectors with high greenhouse gas emissions such as exports and imports of goods. Therefore, when FCEV is introduced in the transportation sector, changes in CO2 emissions, a greenhouse gas, and changes in logistics costs for changes in CO2 emissions are set through scenarios to evaluate the impact on product trade, such as imports and exports. As a result, the increase in logistics costs due to carbon dioxide emissions affected the import and export volume of goods, and when FCEV was introduced, the export volume would increase by up to 5.6%, and the import volume by up to 30%. In addition, CO2 emissions decreased to about 60% in 2050. Therefore, the introduction of FCEV in the transportation sector will greatly contribute to increasing sales in the trading industry and will be able to solve environmental problems such as greenhouse gas reduction.