South Korea South Korea considers Clean Air Conservation Act amendment for lifecycle management of refrigerants

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15 October 2026  AOKI Kenji  AOKI Kenji (EnviX, Ltd.)
South Korea considers Clean Air Conservation Act amendment for lifecycle management of refrigerants

The National Assembly of South Korea announced on September 10, 2026, that Lawmaker Lee Yong-woo and 10 other lawmakers had introduced a bill to amend the Clean Air Conservation Act (Bill No. 2221308).

The bill would overhaul the existing provisions, which focus primarily on large refrigerant-using equipment and refrigerant collection businesses, and establish a framework for managing refrigerants throughout their lifecycle—from manufacture, import, and sale to product information labeling, container collection, leak inspections, and the promotion of reclaimed refrigerant use.

 

Key provisions of the bill

Category / entity Relevant provisions Details and regulatory requirements
1. Definitions and basic principles Articles 2, 6, and 76-10
  • Defines “refrigerant-using equipment,” “refrigerant-using products,” “containers,” “reclamation,” and “destruction.”
  • Provides that this Act takes precedence over other acts with respect to the use, collection, reclamation, and destruction of refrigerants and the collection of containers.
  • Prohibits the intentional release of refrigerants from equipment, products, or containers.
2. Refrigerant manufacturers, importers, and sellers Articles 76-11, 76-12, and 76-14
  • Restricts the use of refrigerants with a high global warming potential (GWP). Violations are subject to a penalty surcharge of up to 5% of sales or KRW 4 billion (approx. USD 2.95 million).
  • Requires reporting of the quantities of refrigerants manufactured, imported, and sold.
  • Requires the collection of refrigerant containers sold and the treatment of residual refrigerant in the containers through reclamation or destruction. Failure to collect the containers is subject to a penalty surcharge of up to KRW 500 million (approx. USD 3.69 million).
3. Equipment and product manufacturers (refrigerant users) Articles 76-13, 76-15, and 76-16
  • Requires users of refrigerants in the manufacture or maintenance of refrigerant-using equipment and products to report the quantities used.
  • Requires reporting of the quantities of refrigerant-using equipment and products manufactured, imported, and sold.
  • Requires labels on the exterior of products stating the type and charge quantity of refrigerant and its GWP, among other information.
4. Owners and managers of equipment and products Articles 76-17 to 76-20 and 76-26
  • Requires notification of the installation and decommissioning of refrigerant-using equipment, among other matters, and the preparation and retention of related records.
  • Introduces requirements for periodic leak inspections, submission of maintenance and repair records, repairs upon detection of a leak, and improvement orders when applicable standards are exceeded.
  • Requires refrigerant recovery when equipment is disposed of, transferred, relocated, or shut down for an extended period.
5. Refrigerant collection, treatment, reclamation, and destruction businesses Articles 76-21 to 76-25 and 76-27 to 76-30
  • Establishes requirements concerning the registration of refrigerant collection businesses, changes to and succession of registration, temporary closures and closures, and training.
  • Establishes standards for the treatment of collected refrigerants.
  • Requires reclaimed refrigerants to undergo quality testing, the test results to be reported, and containers and other items to be labeled as containing reclaimed refrigerants.
  • Requires compliance with refrigerant destruction standards and reporting of destruction results.
6. Preferential use of reclaimed refrigerants and management infrastructure Articles 76-31, 76-32, 76-33, and 77-4
  • Establishes a best-efforts obligation to give priority to reclaimed refrigerants when maintaining or repairing equipment. Public institutions and other designated entities would be required to use reclaimed refrigerants in refrigerant-using equipment and products above a specified size.
  • MCEE will establish and operate a computer network for the management of refrigerant information and conduct fact-finding surveys.
  • Establishes a legal basis for supporting measures such as promoting the use of low-GWP refrigerants and certifying the quality of reclaimed refrigerants.

 

If formally promulgated, the amendment is expected to take effect one year after the date of promulgation.

 

 

The original text of the bill is available at the following website.
https://opinion.lawmaking.go.kr/gcom/nsmLmSts/out/2221308/detailRP

Author / Responsibility

AOKI Kenji

Senior Consultant, EnviX Ltd.

Business Performance

Expertise in EHS (environment, health and safety) consulting in ASEAN region.
- Environmental regulations updating
- Chemical regulations consulting

Background

MSc in Earth Science, The University of Tokyo

AOKI Kenji