Each year, the average Korean uses more than twice the number of plastic bags the average European uses. National authorities have introduced rules to cut down on their use, but the results are decidedly mixed. Mike Balfour reports.

[slug]
Convenience store in Jeju City

A convenience store clerk offered a plastic bag to carry purchased items.

When questioned about price of the plastic bag, he said it's free.

Recording
Convenience store clerk
We can’t give out plastic bags for free, but some people get angry when we ask for money for them. I don’t know what to do.
<싱크 : 편의점 관계자>
"(비닐봉투를 무료로) 안 줘야 하는 건 맞는데 어떤 사람들은 성질내요. 난감해요. 욕하고 가고 그러면."

At another convenience store, a basket full of 10 won coins is on the counter. Whenever a plastic bag is provided, 20 won goes into the cash register.

Recording
Convenience store clerk
Please give me just 20 won. (What's it for?) The plastic bag. (You have to pay for the bag?) Yes.
<싱크 : 편의점 관계자>
"20원만 꺼내주세요. (이거 뭐에요?) 봉투 값이에요. 저 주시면 돼요. (여기서 부담하시는 거에요?) 네."

Free provision of plastic bags at convenience stores and supermarkets has been banned. But the practice has hardly caught on.

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Many consumers assume plastic bags are free

For a long time, consumers have thought plastic bags are free. Therefore shops don't dare to ask for payment.

At big supermarkets, plastic use is still high.

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Supermarket chains agreed to cut plastic use by 50%

The nation's three biggest supermarket chains signed an MOU with the Ministry of Environment in April to cut plastic use by 50 percent by 2020.

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Plastic bags still widely used

However plastic bags, considered as the real culprit of plastic overuse, are being used recklessly at supermarkets.

Plastic bags are allowed only for wet items. But some consumers even use plastic bags for pre-wrapped items.

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Fine of up to \3m for providing free plastic bags

The penalty for giving free plastic bags can be up to 3 million won. Authorities, however, have yet to clamp down.

INTERVIEW
Representative, Seogwipo municipal administration
Shop owners ask why some places charge for the bags and others don’t. Those that should charge but don’t say they have no choice but to follow the practices of other shops.
<인터뷰 : 서귀포시 관계자>
"(업체들끼리) 왜 돈 받냐 그러는 사람도 있고, 왜 돈 안 받냐고 하면서 저희들한테 전화를 하는 거죠. 현장 가보면 서로 영업권 때문에."

[Reporter] Mike Balfour
[Camera] Hyeon Gwang-hoon

At the end of this year, plastic bags will be completely banned, unavailable even for a fee.

For the successful reduction of plastic use, consumers and businesses need to join the nation's efforts.

Mike Balfour, KCTV