Status and issues in national climate crisis adaptation research: Analysis of the Korean climate change assessment reports (2010–2025) and policy implications

Despite international mitigation efforts, climate impacts such as extreme heat, sea level rise, biodiversity loss, and health risks are accelerating, necessitating adaptation measures alongside reduction. In Korea, the Korean Climate Change Assessment Report, published periodically since 2010, has provided a scientific foundation for national adaptation policies. This study analyzes the trajectory and implications of climate adaptation research in Korea over the past 15 years by conducting a comparative analysis of the four editions of these reports. The 2025 report underscores the intensification of climate impacts, including accelerated ocean warming, sea level rise, extreme rainfall, agricultural productivity decline, and heightened health burdens from heatwaves. Also, the report demonstrates that climate change exerts multifaceted impacts across Korean society and ecosystems. At the policy level, systematic climate change adaptation measures are being developed and implemented at both national and local government levels, accompanied by efforts to strengthen the legal framework. While notable progress has been made in participatory governance and sector-specific research, persistent structural challenges are identified: the lack of integrated information platforms, insufficient quantitative evaluation tools, and limited private sector engagement. Furthermore, strengthening the linkage between research findings and their application in actual policy practice remains an important challenge. This research contributes a critical analysis of the evolution of adaptation research and policy, offering a foundational framework for future policy design and academic inquiry in Korea.