Number of national officers engaged in environmental administration

The MoE, established in 1990, currently has 1435 full time employees. In 2004, wildlife protection, formerly under the Korea Forest Service, was incorporated in MoE.MoE is not responsible for ecosystem conservation or water quantity management. MoE's regional environmental offices supervise environmental management issues that go beyond administrative borders and provide technical support to local governments. Four river basin environmental offices (created in 2002) implement the new legislation on watershed management. The Metropolitan Air Quality Management Office was established in January2005 to implement the Special Act on Metropolitan Air Quality Improvement. Other public affiliate bodies of MoE include the National Environmental Dispute Resolution Commission and the National Institute of Environmental Research. In 1998, the National Parks Authority was transferred to MoE.

Regional and local officers engaged in environmental administration

The 16 local governments (nine provinces and seven metropolitan areas) each have their own bureau of environment management. They also operate regional institutes of health and environmental research. Most municipalities (cities and counties) have an environmental management division.