FEATURES OF GREEN ECONOMY DEVELOPMENT AND FORMATION OF ECOLOGICAL JOBS: SOUTH KOREA’S EXPERIENCE AND PROSPECTS FOR UKRAINE

Abstract

The article examines the development of the green economy and the formation of environmental jobs, focusing on the experience of South Korea and its potential relevance for Ukraine. The aim of the study is to identify the key features of the development of environmental employment and the formation of green jobs in South Korea in order to determine factors suitable for practical application in the context of Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction. The methodological basis of the research includes the analysis of policy documents, international reports, scientific publications, and statistical data, which made it possible to comprehensively assess contemporary trends in the green transition. The study reveals that green jobs play a crucial role in the global shift toward sustainable economic models and increasingly determine the competitiveness of national economies. South Korea’s experience demonstrates the effectiveness of an integrated approach that combines government policy, educational initiatives, innovation support mechanisms, and the development of corporate ESG practices, while also highlighting several systemic limitations, including labor-market imbalances, regional disparities, retraining challenges, the slowdown of renewable-energy development, and sustained dependence on fossil-fuel-based energy sources. Based on the synthesis of Korea’s experience, the article outlines the opportunities for adapting its successful elements to Ukraine’s context. Particular emphasis is placed on the integration of environmental principles into reconstruction policy, the development of green competencies, infrastructure modernization, and the implementation of effective institutional mechanisms for expanding the market of environmentally oriented employment. The analysis indicates that Ukraine has the potential to develop its own model of green transition by combining global best practices with national priorities for sustainable recovery. The article holds both theoretical and practical significance, as it expands the understanding of structural processes within the green transition, identifies the factors contributing to effective green employment, and provides a foundation for designing strategic approaches to Ukraine’s long-term sustainable development.