Faces of Green Growth in South Korea: The Dynamics of Environmental Capitalism Donna Soon Hwa Yoo A thesis in fullfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Social Sciences Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences The University of New South Wales Sydney, Australia July 2017 Blank 2 3 ORIGINALITY STATEMENT ‘I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and to the best of my knowledge it contains no materials previously published or written by another person, or substantial proportions of material which have been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at UNSW or any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in the thesis. Any contribution made to the research by others, with whom I have worked at UNSW or elsewhere, is explicitly acknowledged in the thesis. I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project's design and conception or in style, presentation and linguistic expression is acknowledged.’ Signed ……………………………………………................. Date ……………………………….................……................ 4 COPYRIGHT STATEMENT ‘I hereby grant the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all proprietary rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstract International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). I have either used no substantial portions of copyright material in my thesis or I have obtained permission to use copyright material; where permission has not been granted I have applied/will apply for a partial restriction of the digital copy of my thesis or dissertation.' Signed .......................................................................................... Date ……………………………….................…….................…….. AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT ‘I certify that the Library deposit digital copy is a direct equivalent of the final officially approved version of my thesis. No emendation of content has occurred and if there are any minor variations in formatting, they are the result of the conversion to digital format.’ Signed .......................................................................................... Date ……………………………….................…….................…….. 5 Abstract This thesis is about the dynamics of Green Growth in South Korea. Green growth is a form of environmental capitalism with the postulate that environmentally sustainable economic growth is possible through technological innovations, market mechanisms and fewer emissions. Against the backdrop of the 2008 global economic and environmental crises, green growth emerged as a pathway to address these challenges. South Korea became the world’s first test case to implement Green Growth at national level and received international recognition as a ‘model’ Green Growth nation. However, Green Growth in South Korea is highly criticised, especially on the lack of clarity of what it really means and for the former Lee Myung-bak Government’s market fundamentalist approach. So, what does Green Growth really mean, what are the socio-political consequences of Green Growth in South Korea, and why is this significant? This research seeks to answer these questions. In answering these questions, this thesis aims to explore the contested meanings of Green Growth by analysing what the concept developer intended it to be and how the term has been utilised by various actors and groups in South Korea. In doing so, I seek to clarify some misconceptions of the concept intertwined with the dynamics of involved actors and to give a human face (or experiences) to existing forms of environmental capitalism in post-industrial Asia. Drawing upon a neo-Polanyian Political Ecology framework, this thesis examines Green Growth as a process of neo-liberalisation of nature and analyses the relationships between the different actors. In presenting these, a set of four actors of Green Growth in Seoul is introduced – the President (central Government of South Korea), the Mayor (Seoul City government), the Privileged (policy-related actors) and the Minjung (the people). Based on a field research of 300 surveys, 100 interviews, and 2 focus group discussions conducted in Seoul, I present four arguments: the President used Green Growth to advance existing forms of neoliberalism, the Privileged utilised Green Growth as a source of power, the Mayor, used Green Growth as a new form of environmentality and for the Minjung, Green Growth is about its relevance in their everyday lives. It concludes that Green Growth in South Korea is interpreted through market principles related to individual needs and group agenda. This suggests that marketisation of environment through Green Growth is highly advanced in contemporary Korea, which reflects how neoliberalism is embedded through environmental politics in post-industrial Asia. 6 Acknowledgments Completing this doctoral degree has been a long and challenging journey, which I could not have done it on my own. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the people who have provided support to make this possible. First and foremost, I would like to thank my primary PhD supervisor Professor Duncan McDuie-Ra. Thank you for always finding the time to guide me through the ups and downs of this journey with genuine sincere care, despite your extremely busy teaching, travelling, and writing schedules. This thesis has become what it has become because of your example and constructive input. Of course, all the shortcomings in this thesis are unreservedly my own. I am also very grateful to my co-supervisor Associate Professor Kalervo Gulson for your continuous support. Thank you! Second, I would like to thank all the local respondents who willingly shared their stories, struggles, experiences and aspirations during my field research in Seoul, Korea. I would also like to thank all the interviewees and their affiliated organisations for generous time and devoted interest to my field research endeavours. In particular, Seoul Metropolitan Government, Ministry of Environment of Korea, Global Green Growth Institute, Ecomom Korea, and Green Korea United. Thank you to you all! Third, I would like to thank the University of New South Wales and the Commonwealth of Australia for scholarship contribution to enable my study. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the School Office of Social Sciences and Graduate Research School, thesis examiners, editor and colleagues who provided the necessary support to complete this PhD research. Thank you to all! And finally, I would like to thank my parents, Alex and Lydia Yoo for your unconditional love, wholehearted support, and continuous encouragement during the past five years of this research. Thank you mum and dad! I would also like to thank my God in Heaven for all your goodness and direction, which enabled this research to start and to finish with renewed strength. A prayer in my heart is that this research would bear good fruit according to His abundant and amazing grace. Donna S. H. Yoo December 2016 7 Table of Contents FRONT MATTER Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................................... 7 Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................... 8 List of Abbreviations .............................................................................................................. 10 List of Figures ......................................................................................................................... 12 List of Tables .......................................................................................................................... 12 List of Key Korean Terms ...................................................................................................... 12 Chapter 1. Introduction and Methodology 1.1 Introduction: Faces of Green Growth in South Korea ...................................................... 13 1.2 Research Aims and Questions .......................................................................................... 20 1.3 Methodology and Fieldwork ............................................................................................. 22 1.4 Four Actors of Green Growth ........................................................................................... 30 1.5 Structure of This Thesis .................................................................................................... 34 PART I: CONCEPTUALISING GREEN GROWTH Chapter 2. The Origins of Green Growth 2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 38 2.2 Green Growth and the United Nations .............................................................................. 39 2.3 Green Growth and the UNESCAP ...................................................................................