Multi-Faceted Analysis of Green Building Certification to Expand Green Buildings in South Korea

Abstract

Many countries have green building certification systems to rate a green building. They have played a pivotal role in promoting the adoption of green buildings. South Korea has also launched its green building certification, known as the Green Standard for Energy and Environmental Design (G-SEED), to promote sustainable development. However international information and understanding of Korea’s green building certification were insufficient, and no technical assessments related to G-SEED have been conducted. Therefore, to address this knowledge gap, this study aimed to analyze the situation of G-SEED-certified buildings in South Korea and the limitations of G-SEED. In this paper, we focused on the certification status, regional distribution, types of certified buildings, and technical content of G-SEED. Additionally, we analyzed green building technologies applied to 48 sample buildings certified in 2020. Several proposals were formulated to promote the adoption of green buildings. All large cities and provinces in Korea have G-SEED-certified buildings, indicating that green building awareness is increasing. However, the number of green buildings remains less than the overall building stock. The government should revise the certification criteria and implement measures to disseminate green building technologies. Our findings will promote the development of green buildings and contribute to the sustainable development of the construction industry.