The Basic Environmental Policy Act can be regarded as the basis of all environmental laws. The Act clarifies the principle objectives and basic directions of policies for the nation's environmental preservation goals, as well as provides basic policy foundations for environmental protection. Other more than 50 laws related to the environment under more than 10 ministries relate to specific areas of the environment according to the objectives of the law. This situation makes many efficiency and coordination related problems. Furthermore, as policy directions of different ministries may also differ, there may arise conflict and friction between ministries. To prevent such conflicts, close cooperation among ministries is essential for effective policy implementation.

Ministry of Environment (MOE), the central organization for environmental preservation, formulated a long-term comprehensive environmental preservation plan called 'Green Vision 21' in 1996 and the 'Second Mid-term Comprehensive Plan for Environmental Improvement (1997-2001)' in 1997. MOE also formulated 'The Presidential Vision for Environmental Welfare' to prepare Korea for the environmental challenges of the 21st century.

Environmental protection policy of Korean government has encountered a big obstacle, economic crisis, since the end of 1997. The request from the industry for the reduction of the investment for environmental protection and softening of environmental regulations will be increased.