Korean farmers have filed a civil lawsuit against Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) . (Image courtesy of Climate Solution)
SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — Six South Korean farmers have filed a civil lawsuit against Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and its five power subsidiaries, demanding compensation for climate-related damages.
The lawsuit, announced Tuesday during a press conference in Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul, marks the first legal challenge holding KEPCO and its affiliates accountable for agricultural climate damage due to their role in greenhouse gas emissions.
According to Climate Solution, a local environmental NGO, this case targets KEPCO, the nation’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and its subsidiaries, seeking to establish direct responsibility for climate harm to the agricultural sector.
The plaintiffs emphasize that the lawsuit is not merely about compensation, but represents a historical step in addressing the core issue of climate responsibility, calling it a symbolic event for the protection of citizens’ rights to life and property, particularly for vulnerable farmers.
A field of onions dried up and turned yellow due to climate change.
The farmers involved in the lawsuit shared personal testimonies of the growing impact of climate change on their livelihoods. Ma Yong-woon, an apple farmer from Hamyang, Gyeongnam, explained how early blooming flowers in April have been damaged by late frosts, causing frequent crop loss and increasing uncertainty about the future of his farming.
Similarly, Hwang Seong-yeol, a rice farmer from Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do, described how rising temperatures and increased pest outbreaks have drastically reduced both the quantity and quality of his harvests.
Farmers from other regions, including citrus growers in Jeju, peach farmers in Gyeonggi and Gyeongsangbuk-do, and strawberry growers in Gyeongsangnam-do, also provided evidence of significant climate-induced damage, including heatwaves and heavy rainfall.
The lawsuit, backed by Climate Solution lawyer Kim Ye-ni, argues that KEPCO and its subsidiaries are responsible for about 27% of South Korea’s cumulative emissions, and 0.4% of global emissions.
These companies have not only delayed the transition to renewable energy but have also expanded investments in overseas coal projects. Kim described the case as a test for South Korean courts to determine whether the companies violated international and domestic norms related to climate change.
KEPCO and its subsidiaries are responsible for an average of 23-29% of the country’s annual greenhouse gas emissions between 2011 and 2022, with more than 95% of their electricity generation relying on fossil fuels, primarily coal.
In contrast, South Korea’s renewable energy share stands at just 9.5%, with much of the country’s renewable energy obligations met through purchasing certificates rather than direct investments.
The plaintiffs are seeking compensation for property damages, along with symbolic damages of 2,035 won, a reference to their call for the government to pursue a coal phase-out by 2035, ahead of the current 2040 target, aligning with the timeline set by the G7.
Based on research published in Nature, Climate Solution estimates that the losses caused by agricultural climate damage from KEPCO and its subsidiaries’ emissions between 2011 and 2023 amount to approximately 98.1 trillion won.
If the court acknowledges the link between corporate emissions and climate damage in this case, it could set a landmark precedent for climate-related lawsuits in South Korea and globally.
The plaintiffs hope the case will catalyze a shift in the high-carbon industrial structure, prompting both businesses and the government to accelerate greenhouse gas reductions and the transition to renewable energy.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
