Water environment management in Korea has long been driven by chemical water quality standards; however, such an approach does not adequately reflect the structural and functional integrity of aquatic ecosystems. Accordingly, the introduction of biological water quality criteria (biocriteria) has emerged as a key task for establishing ecosystem-centered water environmental policies. This study reviewed the scientific and legal foundations necessary for developing biocriteria suited to Korean aquatic ecosystems and proposed practical approaches for institutionalizing them as environmental standards. To this end, we conducted a comparative analysis of biocriteria implementation cases in major countries, including the United States, the European Union (EU), and Canada, and examined both the applicability and limitations of domestic multi-metric index (MMI)-based biological indicators. In addition, we evaluated the potential linkage with national legislation, including the Framework Act on Environmental Policy and the Water Environment Conservation Act, and proposed an institutionalization roadmap. This study emphasizes the necessity of establishing biocriteria as a policy turning point for securing the ecological health of Korean freshwater ecosystems and building an integrated water environment management framework.

Abstract
서 론
생물기준의 개념과 국제적 적용 사례
    1. 생물기준의 개념 및 유형
    2. 미국의 법적 기준 운영 사례
    3. 유럽연합의 BQE 체계: WFD
    4. 타 국가의 평가제도
한국의 생물학적 지표 적용 현황
    1. 하천 수생태계 건강성 평가의 지표 구성 및 평가방식
    2. 한국의 생물학적 수질기준 현황 및 한계
한국의 생물학적 물환경 기준 도입가능성과 전략
    1. 도입 필요성 및 현황 진단
    2. 제도 비교 및 시사점
    3. 수생태계 환경기준 도입 방향
법·제도적 적 용 가 능성 분 석
    1. 「환경정책기본법」 및 「물환경보전법」과의 연계
    2. 환경기준 고시 내 도입 경로
    3. 통합 물관리정책과의 접목
생물기준 기반의 환경기준 적용 방안
    1. 단계별 정책 로드맵
    2. 국가 수생태계 기준 정립 및 후속조치
    3. 기준 설정 및 평가 대상 하천 구분
    4. 통합 물관리정책 내 주류화 전략
    5. 법 · 제도적 개선 방향
    6. 관리 · 운영체계 및 향후 과제
결 론
적 요
REFERENCES

• 황순진(건국대학교 환경보건과학과, 건국대학교 휴먼앤에코케어센터) | Soon-Jin Hwang (Department of Environmental Health and Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea, Human and Eco Care Center, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea) Corresponding author
• 김난영(건국대학교 휴먼앤에코케어센터) | Nan-Young Kim (Human and Eco Care Center, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea)
• 이상우(건국대학교 산림조경학과) | Sang-Woo Lee (Department of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea)
• 원두희((주)생태조사단 부설 두희생태연구소) | Doo-Hee Won (Doohee Institute of Ecological Research, Korea Ecosystem Service Inc., Ansan 15426, Republic of Korea)
• 장민호(공주대학교 생물교육과) | Min-ho Jang (Department of Biology Education, Kongju National University, Gongju 32588, Repubic of Korea)
• 공동수(경기대학교 생명과학과) | Dongsoo Kong (Department of Life Science, Kyonggi University, Suwon 16227, Republic of Korea)
• 유경아(국립환경과학원 물환경연구부 수자원연구과) | Kyung-A You (Water Resources Research Division, Water Environmental Research Department, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon 22689, Republic of Korea)