A Study on Legislative Improvement Measures for Mitigating Economic Impacts and Ensuring Employment Stability in Industrial Transition for Climate Change Response : Focusing on the Legal Implementation of Just Transition

This study aims to deeply diagnose the economic impacts and employment instability issues inevitably arising from the industrial restructuring process in response to the global climate crisis and the transition to a carbon-neutral society, from the perspective of disaster law, and to explore legislative and institutional improvement measures for these issues. Climate change transcends a mere environmental problem, embodying the nature of a comprehensive ‘socio-economic disaster’ that significantly affects industries, economies, and the lives of all members of society. In particular, challenges such as large-scale unemployment and regional economic stagnation, resulting from the decline of existing fossil fuel-based industries and the transition to new industries, are critical issues that must be resolved in accordance with the principle of ‘Just Transition.’ The study first diagnoses the concrete forms of ‘disaster’ from economic and employment perspectives, resulting from domestic and international industrial transition trends, through the lens of Just Transition concepts and disaster law. Subsequently, it reviews current domestic laws related to industrial restructuring, employment stability, and vocational transition support, identifying their limitations and problems in effectively responding to the impacts of industrial transition. Furthermore, it compares and analyzes successful legislative and policy experiences from major foreign countries, such as Germany's coal industry transition case and the European Union's Just Transition Fund, to derive implications for domestic legislative improvements. In this process, the discussion focuses on the legal and policy implications of each legislative system. Based on this, this study proposes a conceptual framework and key directions for legislative improvements aimed at mitigating the economic impacts and securing employment stability during the industrial transition process, with the goal of realizing a ‘safe Republic of Korea’. Key proposals include establishing a unified national legal framework through the enactment of a ‘Just Transition Basic Act (tentative name),’ strengthening laws for tax reduction and special support to revitalize affected industries and regions, and mandating the expansion of employment insurance coverage and practical support for labor transition. Ultimately, this research aims to contribute to building a legal and institutional safety net that ensures all members of society can prepare for the future fairly and stably, rather than demanding sacrifices from a few, in response to the climate crisis.