Civic groups hold a press conference in front of the Constitutional Court in central Seoul on April 23, 2024, ahead of the first public hearing on petitions against the government’s “insufficient” response to climate change. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jul. 10 (Korea Bizwire) – In a significant shift of public opinion, South Koreans have increasingly identified climate change as the most critical environmental issue facing their nation, according to a recent survey.
The Korea Environment Institute (KEI) released its “2023 National Environmental Awareness Survey” on July 9, revealing a surge in concern about climate change among the populace.
The survey, conducted online from September 21 to 28 last year, gathered responses from 3,088 adults aged 19-69.
A striking 63.9% of respondents named climate change as the most important environmental problem facing South Korea, marking the first time it has topped the list since the question was introduced in 2020.
This represents a substantial increase from previous years, with the percentage rising by about 10 points annually from 39.8% in 2021 and 48.2% in 2022.
Researchers attribute this sharp rise to a series of extreme weather events that have made the impacts of climate change more tangible to the public.
“Last year’s alternating floods and droughts, heatwaves, skyrocketing food prices, and changes in flowering seasons have likely contributed to this significant increase in awareness,” a KEI spokesperson explained.
The survey also found that 61.1% of respondents believe South Korea is already experiencing negative effects from climate change.
An overwhelming 88.4% stated that climate change is having a serious impact on society as a whole, though only 58% felt it was seriously affecting them personally.
Despite this gap, 82.7% of respondents considered climate change important to them individually, with 28.2% deeming it “very important” and 54.5% calling it “important.”
The survey revealed a generational divide in environmental concern, with those in their 50s and 60s showing more interest than younger age groups.
Higher-income individuals, married people, and those identifying as politically progressive also demonstrated greater environmental awareness.
Interestingly, while women typically show higher levels of environmental concern in such surveys, this year’s results showed no statistically significant difference between genders in overall interest. However, women were more likely than men to prioritize environmentally friendly behaviors despite potential inconveniences.
When asked about effective solutions to environmental problems, 18.1% of respondents favored strengthening environmental regulations, an increase of 8.1 percentage points from the previous year.
The second most popular option, at 17.7%, was enhancing punishments for environmental damage, up 1.9 percentage points. This trend suggests growing public support for more stringent measures to address environmental issues.
The survey also highlighted a strong preference for environmental protection over economic growth, with 52.4% of respondents stating that environmental conservation should take priority even if it means slower economic growth.
Only 18.5% favored prioritizing economic growth over environmental concerns.
As climate change continues to dominate environmental discussions in South Korea, these findings may have significant implications for future policy decisions and public engagement on environmental issues.
The survey also highlighted a strong preference for environmental protection over economic growth, with 52.4% of respondents stating that environmental conservation should take priority even if it means slower economic growth. Only 18.5% favored prioritizing economic growth over environmental concerns.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
