South Korea implements shipbuilding-specific safety standards for facilities handling hazardous chemicals

On June 30, 2026, the National Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS), an agency operating under South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE), promulgated and brought into force industry-specific standards for facilities handling hazardous chemicals in the shipbuilding industry. The standards reflect the working environment and process characteristics of the industry. At shipbuilding sites, work locations are often difficult to define because of the nature of the processes involved, and operations are frequently performed in areas adjacent to the coast.