Key facts
- South Korea's greenhouse gas emissions fell 0.9% in 2025.
- National greenhouse gas emissions were estimated at 685.7 million tons in 2025.
- Emissions from industrial and transport sectors decreased.
- South Korea ranks near the bottom of OECD countries for income redistribution.
- The country's income redistribution improvement rate was 17.6% in 2023.
South Korea's greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 0.9 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year, according to provisional estimates from the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment. The reduction was attributed to lower output from the industrial and transport sectors. National emissions were estimated at 685.7 million tons in 2025, down from 691.8 million tons in 2024. This marks the first time annual emissions have fallen below 700 million tons since 2010, partly due to increased use of nuclear and renewable energy in power generation. The government has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent by 2035 from 2018 levels.
Separately, South Korea ranks near the bottom among OECD countries for income redistribution, with an improvement rate of 17.6% recorded in 2023. Parental leave benefits for foreign workers in South Korea doubled last year to 36.45 billion won, with recipients increasing by over 50%.