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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
Building Materials Ratings
Reference standards included in codes
Tested by certified test labs

The Korean code references testing and material standards mostly from the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards. In other cases, the code either spells out the testing procedure or references other government provisions. Testing is performed by various accredited testing agencies, such as Korea Institute of Construction Materials, Korea Electric Testing Institute, Korea Institute of Lighting Technology, Korea Institute of Construction Technology.

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. 

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