A new survey shows South Koreans remain worried about climate change, but growing economic pressures and frustration over slow progress are reducing their willingness to adopt environmentally friendly behaviors.
South Koreans remain deeply concerned about climate change, yet a growing number are choosing personal convenience over environmentally friendly behavior, according to a new survey that points to a gradual decline in public commitment to climate action.
The share of respondents who said convenience matters more than being eco friendly has doubled compared with 2018, reflecting shifting attitudes amid economic pressures.
In a 2025 survey by the Korea Environment Institute released on Sunday, 23.2 percent of respondents said they prioritized convenience in their daily lives, while 54.2 percent said they were willing to act for the environment even at personal inconvenience. The survey was conducted among 3,008 people aged 19 to 69 between Sept. 24 and Oct. 15.
The findings marked a sharp change from 2018, when 70.5 percent said they would put the environment first and only 12 percent prioritized personal convenience.
Researchers linked the shift to prolonged economic strain on households, including inflation and high joblessness, as well as growing frustration with environmental discussions that have yet to deliver tangible results.
Gender differences were also evident. Men were more likely than women to favor convenience, at 28.7 percent compared with 17.6 percent. Women were more inclined to prioritize the environment, with 61.5 percent saying it comes first compared with 47.2 percent of men.
Men were also more likely to report weaker emotional responses to climate change, with 31.5 percent saying they did not feel strongly about the issue, compared with 24.1 percent of women. Overall, 73.1 percent of respondents said they felt anxious about climate change, 64.5 percent said they felt apologetic and 59.9 percent expressed anger.
Age based differences were pronounced. Among those aged 19 to 29, 36.2 percent said they prioritized convenience, the highest among all groups, while only 38.3 percent placed greater importance on the environment. In contrast, respondents aged 60 to 69 showed the opposite trend, with just 11.3 percent prioritizing convenience and 72.1 percent placing the environment first.
The survey found that 83.5 percent of respondents believed climate change has a significant impact on society, while 57.9 percent said it affects them personally. However, the share of those expressing concern about climate change has fallen from 89.5 percent in 2022.
Those who said climate change affects their personal lives rose from 56.7 percent to 66.5 percent in 2024, before dropping by 8.6 percentage points a year later.
When asked whether climate change was an important issue to them personally, 79.3 percent said yes in 2025, down from 83.7 percent in 2024.
“When you look at the severity of the climate change and how Koreans perceive it, we can say that the public’s awareness toward the issue has somewhat deteriorated,” the researchers said.
This post is republished from The Korea Herald.
