South Korea proposes amendment to reduce unsold clothing and promote circular use

On November 26, 2025, ten members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, led by Assemblyman Lee Yong-woo, submitted a bill to partially amend to the Act on the Promotion of the Transition to a Circular Economy Society to the National Assembly. Amid the fashion industry’s mass production and mass disposal practices, the volume of unsold clothing inventory has increased significantly worldwide. In particular, clothing made primarily from synthetic fibers poses a serious environmental challenge, as greenhouse gases, microplastics, and hazardous substances are released throughout the stages from production to disposal. Reducing the environmental burden associated with such products has thus become an urgent issue.