South Korea’s urban park and green space indicators are based on the Urban Park Act enacted in 1980. Over the past 50 years, policies have focused primarily on the quantitative expansion of green spaces under this legislative framework. This quantitative approach reflected the socio-economic context of South Korea’s rapid growth during the 1980s. However, given recent trends such as population decline and changing social conditions, the current indicator system requires revision. The Fifth Comprehensive National Territorial Plan (2020–2040), the highest-level statutory plan, proposed a major policy shift by eliminating the longstanding quantitative indicators and introducing qualitative standards for green space management. While South Korea has consistently expanded its green areas, the overall population is steadily decreasing. As of 2020, the average green space per capita stood at 19㎡, and projections suggest it will increase to 38㎡ per capita by 2070 without the addition of new parks, solely due to demographic changes. In addition, although various urban green spaces such as green areas within apartment complexes and urban forests have been created, they are not yet reflected in the official green space indicators, highlighting the need for institutional reform. Given the increasing difficulty of developing new urban parks and the shifting demands of users toward greater accessibility and diverse activities, a transition from quantitative to qualitative indicators has become essential for future green space policy.