Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Korea-Czech Energy Technology Forum

Trade, Industry and Energy Vice Minister Namho Choe of the Republic of Korea attended the Korea-Czech Republic Energy Technology Forum held today in Seoul with the participation of the Czech Minister for Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček, TACR Chairman Petr Konvalinka, and KETEP President Lee Seung-jae among roughly 150 attendees comprising both countries’ industry, academia, and research experts and government officials for discussions on measures for bilateral cooperation in energy technology. date2025-02-18

Korea and Czech Republic to advance carbon-free energy technology cooperation via joint forum

Today in Seoul, Vice Minister Namho Choe of the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) attended the Korea-Czech Republic Energy Technology Forum (“Forum”), which was co-hosted by MOTIE and the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade and co-organized by the Korea Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) and the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TACR). The Forum was held with the participation of the Czech Minister for Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček, TACR Chairman Petr Konvalinka, and KETEP President Lee SeungJae among roughly 150 attendees comprising both countries’ industry, academia, and research experts and government officials for discussions on measures for bilateral cooperation in energy technology. During the presentation session, Korean and Czech experts shared the latest technology trends and proposed future technology collaboration measures centering on power grids and energy storage systems (ESS) in addition to carbon-free energy areas like nuclear power and clean hydrogen. In the following panel discussions and networking session, participants had the opportunity to broaden the scope of their mutual understanding spanning various technology fields and make progress in the search for joint projects. In his welcome address, Vice Minister Choe noted the Czech Republic’s status as the manufacturing powerhouse of Central Europe and highlighted that the two countries can avail themselves of meaningful opportunities amid the carbon neutrality challenge by generating synergy between Korean and Czech businesses. He added that full measure will be given towards creating new businesses in energy areas as well through continued support for joint research based on close bilateral cooperation. MOTIE plans to further develop the cooperation measures discussed during today’s Forum via consultation with relevant Czech authorities in selecting new Korea-Czech projects for international joint research.   date2025-02-18

Korea and Czech Republic hold 2nd Supply Chain and Energy Dialogue (SCED)

Minister for Trade, Industry and Energy Dukgeun Ahn of the Republic of Korea held the second Supply Chain and Energy Dialogue (SCED) meeting with the Czech Minister for Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček today in Seoul. Launched in September 2024, the SCED is a Korea-Czech Republic cooperation channel for enhancing bilateral strategic partnership under the aim to establish comprehensive and across-the-board economic cooperation in areas like trade, industry, and energy, including nuclear power. Today’s second SCED meeting was held to take stock of cooperation progress in trade, investment, supply chains, advanced industries, carbon-free energy, and nuclear power and to hold in-depth discussions on cooperative measures going forward. In view of the global rise of protectionism, both sides shared best practices for supply chain crisis response and measures to expand bilateral trade. For advanced industries, they discussed steps to establish centers for collaboration in battery, future mobility, and robots and entered a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for bilateral semiconductor cooperation in R&D and manpower training.  Regarding carbon-free energy, the Korean delegation shared Korea’s energy efficiency policies in industry, energy, and transportation areas and both sides agreed to bolster cooperation in developing clean hydrogen technology. Noting Korea’s smooth progress in the nuclear reactor contract negotiations in accordance with the predetermined timeline and procedures, the two sides further discussed cooperation in joint R&D and manpower training. At the Korea-Czech Republic investment and business conference held on the sidelines of the SCED meeting where the two countries’ relevant businesses and institutions signed a total of six MOUs, Minister Ahn expressed anticipation for wider bilateral trade and investment as well as cooperation across various areas including advanced manufacturing, supply chains, and energy. In light of the two countries’ 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of their bilateral strategic partnership, Minister Ahn proposed that Korea and the Czech Republic enter a new dimension of cooperative ties by smoothly facilitating the final contract for the construction of new reactors in the Dukovany region.   date2025-02-17

CFE Global Working Group launches inaugural meeting

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea held the CFE Global Working Group meeting on February 7 via videoconferencing with the participation of the Czech Republic, Japan, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the International Energy Agency (IEA), and the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) Secretariat for discussions on the definition, standards, and technical criteria of carbon-free energy as well as practical measures to widen global participation in the CFE Initiative, including the provision of incentives for participating businesses. MOTIE and the Carbon Free (CF) Alliance are leading the Carbon Free Energy (CFE) Initiative, which aims for a technology-neutral approach in utilizing various carbon-free energy sources such as renewables, nuclear energy, and clean hydrogen to facilitate industries’ cost-effective achievement of carbon neutrality. The CFE Initiative has won the support of a total of 13 countries, international organizations, and groups. During the meeting, CF Alliance Chairman Lee Hoe-sung viewed that the CFE Global Working Group will serve to lay the foundation for discourse regarding the definition and standards of carbon-free energy that can gain general acceptance in the international community. CEM Secretariat Head Jean-François Gagné welcomed the active discussions within the CFE Global Working Group, which currently functions as the CEM platform, and expressed anticipation for the discussions to help build a stronger cooperation base. Meanwhile, Korea, the Czech Republic, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreed to further relevant discussions for an early establishment of CFE implementation standards, while also stepping up cooperation to make progress through related discussions at the CEM Ministerial meeting slated for August 25 this year.   date2025-02-10

MOTIE holds K-Grid Export Alliance kickoff meeting

Deputy Minister for Energy Policy Lee Ho-hyeon at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea chaired the K-Grid Export Alliance kickoff meeting on February 4 at the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-SURE) in Seoul to seek new opportunities for homegrown businesses in the global power infrastructure market and led discussions on the global grid market trends, forecast, and Korea’s strategic measures. The meeting was attended by representatives of 15 companies and institutions, including Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Korea Southern Power Co., Hyundai E&C, LS Electric, and KEA.   date2025-02-06

K-Grid Export Alliance kicks into high gear, eyeing global power grid market

Deputy Minister for Energy Policy Lee Ho-hyeon at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea chaired the K-Grid Export Alliance (“Alliance”) kickoff meeting today at the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-SURE) in Seoul, the first general meeting for the Alliance since its launch in December 2024, to seek new opportunities for homegrown businesses in the global power infrastructure market. Since MOTIE announced its global power grid market strategy in December, the ministry has been consulting with related export supporting institutions to concretize measures for boosting exports in 2025.  First, K-SURE plans to continue providing short-term preferential loans (up to double in limit) and insurance premium discounts (up to 20 percent) to transformer and power cable exporting businesses this year, while expanding the range of relevant export items to include energy storage systems (ESS).  Moreover, the overseas trade shows for power grids and related equipment that had previously been dispersed under the charge of different institutions will be integrated under the central management of MOTIE and the Korea Electric Association (KEA) to produce more tangible outcomes by streamlining the process of company recruitment, promotion, and performance management. Today’s meeting was attended by representatives of 15 companies and institutions, including Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Korea Southern Power Co., Hyundai E&C, LS Electric, and KEA. They discussed export strategies in light of the newly emerging uncertainties as well as opportunities, such as the growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and datacenters, with an aim to propose a business model capable of meeting the complex needs of local overseas markets based on Korean companies’ expertise in EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) and manufacturing. Deputy Minister Lee stated that the global power grid market offers Korea’s power industry a vital opportunity for further growth, adding that public and private sectors will make joint effort to establish the industry as the country’s next new model for energy cooperation.   date2025-02-04

Korea and Japan to step up cooperation in carbon regulation response

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) held the second Korea-Japan Global Green Policy Dialogue (“Dialogue”) today in Seoul and discussed cooperation in global carbon regulation response, carbon-neutrality policies, and clean energy areas. Launched as a follow-up measure to the two countries’ trade and industry ministers’ meeting held in April 2024, the Dialogue was elevated to director general-level in view of the rising importance of responding to global carbon regulations. The two sides concurred with making joint efforts to prevent global carbon regulations from acting as trade barriers. They also reaffirmed the need for cooperation in clean energy areas and agreed to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation in achieving carbon neutrality.  MOTIE’s Director General for New Trade Strategy and Policy Sim Jinsu stated that as countries are taking steps to introduce carbon-related regulations, wider cooperation with likeminded countries like Japan will help to bolster Korean industries’ carbon competitiveness and minimize negative impact on exports.  Ryuzaki Takatsugu, Director-General for GX Promotion at Japan’s METI, said that it is important for Japan and Korea to work closely together to effectively respond to the green transformation and other related changes across the global landscape. Going forward, the Korean government plans to heighten support to boost domestic companies’ capacity to respond against global carbon regulations through briefings, help desks, and consultations.   date2025-01-17

Korea-U.S. MOU on Principles Concerning Nuclear Exports and Cooperation

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn of the Republic of Korea and U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm attended the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Principles Concerning Nuclear Exports and Cooperation on January 8 (local time) in Washington D.C. date2025-01-13

Minister Ahn holds talks with U.S. Secretary of Energy

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn of the Republic of Korea held talks with U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm on January 8 (local time) in Washington D.C. and discussed measures for bilateral energy cooperation. date2025-01-13

Minister Ahn meets former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn of the Republic of Korea held talks with former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman on January 8 (local time) in Washington D.C. for discussions and presented the latter with the Bronze Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit for his contribution to establishing the Korea-U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain establishment and furthering bilateral nuclear energy policy and industrial cooperation. date2025-01-13