Laying the Groundwork: Accelerating the HFCs Transition and Lifecycle Refrigerant Management - An HVACR Industry Survey
About
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are non-carbon dioxide (non-CO2) greenhouse gases the emissions of which are currently increasing at a faster rate than any other major greenhouse gas in South Korea. Notably, HFCs became the primary cause of the increase in total national GHG emissions for year 2021 (the data for which was officially released in 2024, taking into consideration the 3-year gap in national GHG emissions accounting). Currently, HFCs account for 4.5% of total national GHG emissions, and are expected to continue increasing into at least the mid-2030s. HFCs are primarily consumed in South Korea as refrigerants in HVACR equipment (71% of total domestic HFCs).
According to surveys conducted to date, HFCs and their predecessor, HCFCs are used in roughly 95% of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment in South Korea today. Furthermore, the recovery rate of refrigerants from refrigeration and air conditioning equipment that has reached the end of its service life is less than 1%. The need to address the lack of policies and to eliminate management gaps in refrigerant handling throughout the product lifecycle—from use to recovery, recycling, and proper disposal—has become increasingly urgent in combination with accelerating the transition away from HFCs in new and present equipment.
Executive summary
This industry survey was conducted to assess industry perceptions related to the government work pillars of “promoting the transition to products with low global warming potential (GWP)” and the establishment of a “comprehensive management system for refrigerants”, both outlined in the “Roadmap for Improved Management of HFCs to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions” released December 2024. The survey’s purpose is to inform policy stakeholders about the challenges faced by the domestic refrigeration and air conditioning industry—which is a major producer and consumer of refrigerants—in transitioning to alternative refrigerants, while at the same time highlighting the need for HFCs reduction as a key environmental and industrial transition issue that the South Korean government must urgently address.
Amid ongoing uncertainty regarding clear support measures for transitioning to alternative substances and the direction of policies related to refrigerant regulations, it is anticipated that the results of this survey, which reflect the current state and opinions of the domestic HVACR industry, will provide a basis for swiftly advancing the transition to HFC-free refrigerants for the country as a whole.
