HIGHLIGHTS
South Korea's interest in international forestry has continued to increase over time, especially in various forms of world forestry governance.
Six main international forest issues in South Korea can be derived from international forest regimes: Sustainable Forest Management (SFM), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), forest land degradation and desertification, climate change, illegal logging, forest biodiversity, and species conservation.
South Korea tends to adopt new policies rapidly as a response to calls from international forest regimes.
South Korea contributes to international forest regimes in order to achieve domestic goals for the issues derived from the regimes
South Korea also stimulates other countries' participation to deal with the issues by using incentives.
SUMMARY
South Korea has focused on bilateral agreements to supply timber since the 1990s which requires cooperation with forest-related international organisations. This study analysed the relationship between South Korean and international forest regimes by identifying the issues these regimes face and analysing South Korea's contribution to these regimes. The study used data from an in-depth content analysis of key policy documents between South Korea and each of the regimes. The results confirm six forest-related international issues: Sustainable Forest Management, Sustainable Development Goals, forest land degradation and desertification, climate change, illegal logging, forest biodiversity, and species conservation. South Korea contributed to these regimes through cooperative initiatives and projects. This contribution, furthermore, directs other countries' participation to confront the issues. Most of the international forest-related issues in South Korea are derived from external elements such as international agreements or governances. South Korea also uses international regimes to encourage national goals.
