This study examines the current framework for diagnosing the causes of stream ecosystem impairment in South Korea and proposes strategies to improve the effectiveness of aquatic ecosystem restoration policies. While technical guidelines and manuals for impairment diagnosis have been developed, they remain limited in practice due to weak legal enforceability, lack of integration with restoration planning, and insufficient coordination between related laws such as the Water Environment Conservation Act and the River Act. To address these issues, this study highlights the need for institutional reforms, including the legal establishment of a national inventory of impaired streams, the development of a comprehensive management plan, and the incorporation of diagnosis results into river planning processes. It also proposes clarifying the roles of central and local agencies to enhance administrative efficiency and reduce project fragmentation. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the potential of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) as a paradigm shift in stream restoration. The application of NbS should be linked to the results of scientific diagnosis and tailored to the specific characteristics and impairment mechanisms of each stream. By strengthening the link between diagnosis, planning, and implementation, and adopting ecosystem-based approaches such as NbS, this study aims to inform integrated policy and institutional directions for sustainable stream restoration in South Korea.

Abstract
서 론
수생태계 훼손진단 체계의 현황과 과제
    1. 국내 훼손진단 체계 개발 및 경과
    2. 훼손진단 체계의 한계와 개선 방향
수생태계 복원을 위한 법·제도 및정책 개선 방안
    1. 현행 법 · 제도 체계 분석
    2. 수생태계 관련 법 · 제도 정비 방향
생태하천복원사업의 실효성 진단과 개선 방향
    1. 생태하천복원사업의 현황 및 한계
    2. 생태하천복원사업의 개선과 전환: 자연기반해법 도입을중심으로
결론 및 정 책 제 언
적 요
REFERENCES

• 박세린(건국대학교 산림조경학과) | Se-Rin Park (Department of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea)
• 이종원(건국대학교 산림조경학과) | Jong-Won Lee (Department of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, 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) Corresponding author
• 김난영(건국대학교 휴먼앤에코케어센터) | Nan-Young Kim (Human and Eco Care Center, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea)
• 황순진(건국대학교 휴먼앤에코케어센터, 건국대학교 환경보건과학과) | Soon-Jin Hwang (Human and Eco Care Center, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea, Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, 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)