Table 2. Revisions to the environmental labeling system in Korea

Year Actions taken
1994 Enacted the environmental technology and industry support act, creating the basis for an environmental labelling system
1997 Joined the global ecolabelling network
1999 Expanded scope of products eligible for environmental labelling
2001 Established environmental labelling criteria for electrical and electronic products
Introduced environmental performance labelling system
2002 Signed mutual recognition agreement with Taiwan Green Mark and Thailand Green Label
2003 Expanded products eligible for environmental labelling and revised certification criteria
Signed a mutual recognition agreement with Japan Eco Mark
2004 Changed the design of Korea eco-label
Signed mutual recognition agreement with Australia good environmental choice
2005 Strengthened eco-label certification criteria for 27 product groups
Enacted the act on promotion of purchase of eco-friendly products
Revised the eco-label target products and certification criteria
Signed mutual recognition agreement with China eco-labeling
2006 Signed mutual recognition agreement with New Zealand environmental choice
Revised the eco-label target products and certification criteria
Included new products/services and revised the classification system of the eco-label target products and certification criteria
2009 Introduced carbon performance labelling
2010 Signed mutual recognition agreement with Nordic Swan (Northern Europe)
2011 Expanded scope of services eligible for environmental labelling
2012 Signed mutual recognition agreements with Canada EcoLogo and US Green Seal
Opened KEITI Environmental Analysis Lab
2013 Signed mutual recognition agreements with German Blue Angel and Taiwan Green Building Material
Established environmental safety standards for hazardous substances contained in children's products
Introduced the eco-label certification auditor system
Made improvements in the Eco-label system
2014 Revised and implemented the enforcement decree of the act on the promotion of purchase of green products at public institutions
2015 Began receiving applications for and issuing Eco-label certification online
Implemented a working group composed of certified companies to establish and revise eco-label certification criteria
2016 Revised the eco-label target products and certification criteria
Established the third basic plan on promotion of purchase of green products
2017 Changed the logo of Korea eco-label
2021 Issued pre-announcement of administration for the revised eco-label target products and certification criteria
2022 Expanded items eligible for premium certification and newly implemented everyday consumer product category