Korea Environment Institute

What Korea Environment Institute does

한국환경연구원 (Korea Environment Institute, KEI) is South Korea's sole national-level environmental policy research institute, established in 1992 and operating under the National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences (경제·인문사회연구회). The institute conducts commissioned environmental research across nine research divisions covering environmental economics, environmental assessment, climate change and air quality, water environment, national land management, resource circulation, environmental health, and international cooperation. KEI also functions as Korea's designated Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) professional review institution, providing statutory review services for major national projects — a regulatory mandate unique to KEI among Korean organizations.

KEI operates a broad portfolio of digital platforms and publications. Digital infrastructure includes the KEI Data Portal (open environmental data), KEI GPT (an LLM-based environmental knowledge search service), the EIA Information System, the Environmental Value Information System (eVIS), the digital library, the KEI Repository, and Scholars@KEI. Research output encompasses 2,822+ archived research reports, a peer-reviewed academic journal (환경정책), and multiple periodicals including 환경포럼 (since 1997), KEI Focus (since 2013), ADAPTATION (since 2022), Foreign Environmental Policy Trends, EIA Review, North Korea Environmental Review, China Environmental Brief, and Global Environmental Issues. AI and deep learning are applied to algae bloom prediction, marine pollution forecasting, biodiversity surveys, and climate-atmosphere integrated assessment modeling, and a dedicated AI Convergence Research Group coordinates this work.

KEI is funded primarily through government research commissions from Korean ministries (Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Climate Change, Ministry of Land/Infrastructure/Transport) and public institutions, supplemented by EIA review fees. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Customers are overwhelmingly public-sector — government ministries, agencies (e.g., 2050 Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth Commission), local governments, and affiliated public corporations — with secondary engagement of academia and the general public through free digital platforms and the KEI Environmental Policy Education Center. KEI coordinates the international Sustainable Development Research Institution Network (NISD) and maintains MOUs with domestic and foreign partners.

Name

Korea Environment Institute

Legal name

Korea Environment Institute (한국환경연구원)

Website

https://kei.re.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Korea Environment Institute (KEI) is South Korea's sole national environmental policy research institute and designated EIA review institution, conducting government-commissioned research across nine divisions and operating digital platforms including KEI GPT and the national environmental data portal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Policy Research Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

NEPA/EA/EIS & Public Consultation (EUAHAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Permitting & Impact Assessment (EIA/NEPA) (BPAIAMAK), Permitting, Siting & Environmental Impact (EIA/NEPA) Advisory (EUAMANAB), EIA/ESIA Documentation & Technical Studies (Air/Water/Noise/Traffic) (EUAHAAAC)

Keywords

• Environmental policy research
• Environmental impact assessment
• Climate change research
• Environmental data services
• Sustainable development research

Headquarters

HQ city

Sejung

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Research Commissions: KEI, as a government-funded research institute under the Economics and Humanities Research Council (NRC), generates primary revenue through commissioned research projects from government ministries (Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, etc.) and public institutions. Projects span policy research, environmental assessments, and specialized studies.
2. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Review Services: KEI serves as a designated EIA professional review institution (환경영향평가 전문검토기관), reviewing and evaluating environmental impact assessment documents submitted for government projects. EIA review fees constitute a revenue stream.
3. Publications and Educational Services: KEI publishes research reports, academic journals (환경정책), periodic publications (환경포럼, KEI Focus, ADAPTATION, etc.), and operates the Environmental Policy Education Center providing environmental education content.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

KEI is South Korea's only national environmental policy research institute, conducting commissioned environmental policy research, environmental impact assessment (EIA) reviews, and operating digital information systems such as the KEI Data Portal, KEI GPT, and the EIA Information System. It publishes research reports, academic journals, and policy periodicals, and delivers free environmental education to the public.

Product overview

Korea Environment Institute (KEI) operates as Korea's sole national environmental policy research institute and environmental impact assessment review organization. KEI offers a comprehensive portfolio of digital platforms and publications: digital services including KEI GPT (AI-powered environmental knowledge search), KEI 환경평가정보 (EIA information system), KEI 환경정책교육원 (e-learning education platform), KEI 전자도서관 (digital library), KEI 데이터 포털 (open data portal), and KEI Repository; alongside research publications including 연구보고서 (research reports), KEI 포커스 (policy briefs), 환경포럼 (environmental forum journal), 환경정책 학술지 (peer-reviewed journal), ADAPTATION (climate adaptation magazine), overseas policy trend publications on global, Chinese, and North Korean environmental issues, and EIA Review. The core offerings are the research services, information systems, and educational platforms that support evidence-based environmental policy development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KEI 융복합환경연구단(CTG): Cross-cutting Thematic Group conducting convergent research on future environmental policy issues
• 탄소중립도시연구단
• 국가지속가능성연구단
• 기후에너지환경교육연구단
• 하구해양환경연구단
• AI융복합연구단
• 환경종합지표연구단
• 통합환경관리연구단
• 환경에너지연구단
• 국토환경현황분석연구단
• 국가기후위기적응센터
• 환경보건센터
• 북한환경정보센터
• KEI 환경정책교육원
• KEI 국민환경의식조사
• KEI GPT

Products and services

• KEI GPT (환경지식 GPT 검색) LLM-based environmental knowledge search tool that provides customized environmental knowledge in response to user queries.
• KEI 환경평가정보 (Environmental Impact Assessment Information System) Information system providing review information for environmental impact assessment documents submitted to KEI for evaluation.
• KEI 환경정책교육원 (Environmental Policy Education Center) Online learning platform providing free environmental education content to citizens, helping prevent and resolve environmental problems and address environmental inequality.
• KEI 데이터 포털 (KEI Data Portal) Environmental data service portal providing open access to KEI's environmental datasets, national environmental consciousness survey results, and environmental data services.
• 연구보고서 (Research Report Series) Series of research reports including basic research, interim research, fundamental research, general research, and commissioned research categories produced by KEI's research divisions.
• 환경포럼 (Environmental Forum) KEI's representative periodical publication since 1997, disseminating research results and providing theoretical, academic, and professional analysis of major environmental policies.
• 환경정책 학술지 (Environmental Policy Academic Journal) Peer-reviewed academic journal covering environmental policy research, published by KEI in collaboration with academic societies.
• 국가기후위기적응센터 (National Climate Crisis Adaptation Center, KACCC) National climate crisis adaptation center operated by KEI, providing climate adaptation information, research, and policy support.
• 환경영향평가정보시스템 (Environmental Impact Assessment Information System, EIASS) Environmental Impact Assessment Information System operated in connection with the government for EIA document management and review.
• KEI Repository Research repository system for preserving and sharing KEI research outputs with the public.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,822 research reports published and archived
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Research Council of Science and Technology (NRC) / 경제·인문사회연구회coreOthersKEI operates under the NRC (National Research Council of Science and Technology) / Economics and Humanities Research Council system. The NRC provides government research funding and institutional oversight for KEI's research activities, including the '22-'23 NRC Carbon Neutrality Research Group.
• Korea Environmental CorporationminorOthersPartner institution in Korea's environmental governance ecosystem. KEI collaborates with the Korea Environmental Corporation on environmental policy research, data sharing, and environmental management initiatives.
• National Institute of Ecology (국립생태원)minorOthersCollaborates with the National Institute of Ecology on biodiversity conservation, ecological assessment, and ecosystem research topics.
• Korea Environmental Preservation AssociationminorOthersPartner organization in environmental preservation and policy initiatives, sharing environmental information and research data.
• 2050 Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth Commission (2050탄소중립녹색성장위원회)coreOthersKEI supports the 2050 Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth Commission by providing policy research, carbon neutrality strategies, and climate change adaptation analysis for Korea's national carbon neutrality goals.
• Sustainable Development Research Institution Network (NISD) / 지속가능발전 연구기관 네트워크coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network of sustainable development research institutions operated by KEI. KEI coordinates the network to promote international cooperation on sustainable development research, sharing knowledge and conducting joint studies on environmental policy across member countries.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER): Korea's principal environmental R&D institute under the Ministry of Environment, focusing on environmental monitoring, testing, and pollution research. Directly comparable as a sister national environmental research body serving overlapping policy domains.
• National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES, Japan): Japan's sole national environmental research institute conducting policy-oriented environmental research. Highly comparable in mission, mandate, and structure as a national environmental policy research body in an East Asian context.
• Resources for the Future: Independent US-based environmental and energy policy research institution. Directly comparable as a non-governmental environmental policy think tank producing peer-reviewed research and policy briefs.
• Stockholm Environment Institute: International non-profit policy research institute conducting environmental and sustainable development research. Comparable in research output portfolio, policy advisory role, and publication-based dissemination model.
• Korea Environment Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI): Government-affiliated institute under the Ministry of Environment driving Korea's environmental industry and technology policy. Overlapping mandate on environmental technology assessment, green industry promotion, and policy commercialization.
• Korea Energy Economics Institute (KEEI): Also a national policy research institute under Korea's NRC system, KEEI conducts energy and climate policy research closely mirroring KEI's mandate. Operates with similar government-commissioned model, research divisions, and publication portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA): International research institute applying systems analysis to environmental, energy, and climate challenges. Comparable in mission and tooling (modeling, scenario analysis) but with broader multi-disciplinary scope.
• Korea Development Institute (KDI): Premier Korean national economic policy think tank under the NRC. Comparable as a larger government policy research institution with broader mandate but similar funding model, publication apparatus, and research commissioning structure.
• Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements (KRIHS): Sister NRC-affiliated national research institute focused on national land, urban, and environmental planning. Comparable structurally as a government research institute serving overlapping national land environmental management domains.

Regional players

• Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning (CAEP): Ministry of Ecology and Environment-affiliated environmental planning research body in China. Comparable in government-affiliated policy research mandate and EIA advisory role, but operating in a different national context.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCNztXBi67DfaW9_nBpWYIPA
• Facebookfacebook.com/keiinfo
• Instagraminstagram.com/kei.official.insta
• Xx.com/smartkei2013
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/korea-environment-institute

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

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Frequently asked questions about Korea Environment Institute