South Korea
Code Development
Summary |
Summary
South Korea issued its first mandatory standard on insulation thickness in 1977, followed by other building energy standards. These standards covered offices, hotels, hospitals and residential buildings. In 2001, the Korean government integrated the separate energy standards into the Building Design Criteria for Energy Saving, which is mandatory code for all types of buildings. The code focuses on large buildings, and, therefore, such buildings have more detailed provisions available. |
Start Year |
Exact Start Year
1 977
Start Year Range
< 1980
|
Revision Schedule |
Yes, a revision schedule exists
|
Existing Code Coverage |
Commercial
Residential
|
Stakeholder Engagement |
Stakeholder Engagement
Technical Committee
|
Best Practices | NA, Check Country Information Sheet for details |
Code Implementation - Compliance & Enforcement
Administrative/Enforcement Structures |
The property owner must fill out an energy-saving worksheet (Energy Conservation Plan) and submit it to local governmental offices to obtain a building permit. Local government building officials, sometimes with assistance from KEMCO, review construction plans and energy conservation plans execute the codes as part of the building permitting process for new buildings. |
Compliance Checking on Design |
Yes, compliance is checked on Design
|
Compliance Checking on Construction | NA, Check Country Information Sheet for details |
Compliance Checking on Pre-Occupancy | |
Air Tightness testingy | |
Commissioning before occupancy | NA, Check Country Information Sheet for details |
Commissioning after occupancy |
Yes, commissioning is happening after occupancy
|
Compliance Software Residential |
Yes, commissioning is happening after occupancy
|
Compliance Software Non-Residential |
Yes, Software exists
|
Penalties for non-compliance |
Refusal Permission to construct
|
Incentives and Recognition program for compliance |
Incentives and Recognition program for compliance
Awards/Grants/Tax Breaks
Finance/Loans/Ratings
Buildings that obtained an energy performance certificate are eligible for long-term and low-interest loans. KEMCO is planning to develop other financial support programs. For existing buildings with annual energy consumption over 2,000 tonnes of oil equivalent, the government launched a Voluntary Agreements programs, providing low-interest loans, tax incentives, technical support and public recognition in exchange for 5% reduction in energy consumption. |
Compliance Rate monitoringe | |
Compliance Rate Publicised | NA, Check Country Information Sheet for details |
Compliance Lessons Learned | NA, Check Country Information Sheet for details |
Compliance Energy Use Statistics | |
Compliance Rate in % | NA, Check Country Information Sheet for details |
Capacity Building and Education
Awareness Raising |
Compliance Training
|
Building materials
Building Materials Ratings |
Energy Performance Certificates
EPC Implementation |
EPC Implementation
EPCs are referred to in codes -
The Korean government requires that apartment complexes with 500 or more households obtain an EPC under the Housing Performance Grading Indication System. The government introduced this scheme in 2006 to help prospective users select high quality homes. The system consists of 20 components, one of which is thermal performance. Korea has other building labeling schemes. Even though they are voluntary, some requirements, such as mandatory energy audits, are waived for certified buildings. |