Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Korea on track to laying foundation for mutual recognition of carbon footprint verification

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea announced on November 25 that the Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (KOLAS) has signed a Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) with the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) for greenhouse gas verification, including carbon footprint verification. Carbon footprint verification involves companies calculating the greenhouse gas emissions generated throughout a product’s entire lifecycle—from raw material extraction to manufacturing, distribution, and disposal. Accredited third-party verification bodies then review these calculations and issue verification certificates. Recently, major economies such as the European Union (EU) have signaled plans to mandate carbon footprint verification for imported products as part of their carbon emission regulations. The EU's Battery Regulation and Ecodesign Directive are notable examples of these initiatives. Since KOLAS introduced a carbon footprint verification accreditation system in January 2023, eight organizations, including Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR), Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL), and Korea Testing Certification (KTC), have been accredited as verification bodies. To ensure the international reliability of these bodies, KOLAS has actively pursued the signing of the IAF MLA. This agreement signifies that the verification capabilities and reliability of KOLAS-accredited carbon footprint verification bodies (currently eight) are now internationally recognized. With a framework for mutual recognition of verification certificates established through collaboration with overseas accredited bodies, Korean exporters are expected to significantly reduce the time and costs associated with local verification processes abroad. Notably, major testing institutions with extensive international networks, such as KTR, KTL, and KTC, are among the KOLAS-accredited verification bodies, promising seamless collaboration with overseas counterparts in the future.   KATS President Jin Jong-wook stated that the technical capabilities and reliability of KOLAS-accredited verification bodies have gained international recognition through this agreement, paving the way for carbon footprint verification certificates issued in Korea to be widely accepted overseas. He added that KATS will continue to foster an environment where Korean companies can access global markets with a single round of testing, certification, and verification.   date2024-11-26

Vice Minister visits Ulsan petroleum storage facility

Trade, Industry and Energy Vice Minister Namho Choe visited the Ulsan petroleum storage facility on November 14 and received a briefing on petroleum storage operations and issues and encouraged employees. date2024-11-15

Vice Minister attends Korea Energy Terminal (KET) completion ceremony

Korea’s Trade, Industry and Energy Vice Minister Namho Choe attended the Korea Energy Terminal (KET) completion ceremony on November 14 in Ulsan with the attendance of executive leaders and employees from the Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC), SK Gas, Ulsan Metropolitan City, and Ulsan Port Authority (UPA), and gave a congratulatory message and presented government awards to project contributors. date2024-11-15

Korea Energy Terminal starts commercial operation

Korea’s Trade, Industry and Energy Vice Minister Namho Choe attended the Korea Energy Terminal (KET) completion ceremony today in Ulsan with the attendance of executive leaders and employees from the Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC), SK Gas, Ulsan Metropolitan City, and Ulsan Port Authority (UPA), among other project contributors. The completion of KET is significant in three main aspects. First, KET is a key project under Korea’s Northeast Asia Energy Hub Project and the second domestic energy hub to be completed following the Oilhub Korea Yeosu Co. (OKYC) completed in 2013. Based on Korea’s favorable geopolitical location and port environment, OKYC is currently in successful operation, leading to anticipation of Ulsan KET’s smooth operation as well. Second, KET is Korea’s first mixed terminal for storing both petroleum and gas. In accordance with the recent changes in the global energy paradigm, the design for KET has evolved from the initial petroleum-centered model to a mixed terminal capable of dealing with other sources like natural gas. An innovative model built to address changing needs, KET has the potential and capacity to function as a terminal for storing various clean energy sources such as hydrogen and ammonia, and for carbon capture and storage (CCS) going forward. Third, KET is a culmination of public-private cooperation. The government has been concentrating effort on improving the institutional framework to expand the terminal’s scope of use by newly installing the international petroleum trading business under the Petroleum Business Act and permitting the blending of domestic oil products within the general bonded area. KNOC has contributed to designing and building a safe terminal facility based on its experiences in large-scale oil stockpile facility projects. In the private sector, SK Gas responded swiftly to Ulsan’s private sector demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) by proposing the establishment of the city’s first LNG terminal, thereby dramatically boosting KET’s commercial value. With companies around the world showing heated interest in KET, its 4.4 million barrels of storage space for oil and gas are fully rented out at the moment. Oil storage space of 1.7 million barrels is to be used for trading of overseas companies’ petroleum products, while 2.7 million barrels—equivalent to 200,000 metric tons—of gas storage are to be provided to domestic companies for new power generation and industrial fuel purposes. Vice Minister Choe stated that KET is an example of best practice of synergy between values of public benefit and private sector creativity. During the completion ceremony, he presented government awards to KNOC, SK Gas, and UPA for their contribution to KET completion.   date2024-11-14

Korea and Indonesia discuss energy cooperation including renewal of critical minerals MOU

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia held the 15th Korea-Indonesia Energy Forum (“Forum”) today in Seoul to share energy policy directions and investment support measures, with the participation of a total of 60 attendees from both countries’ governments, public companies, and energy firms. Launched in 1979 as a bilateral resources cooperation committee, the Forum has convened on an annual basis since 2007 and helped to enhance Korea-Indonesia energy cooperation and create business opportunities.  At today’s Forum, MOTIE proposed to the Indonesian government that the two countries renew their memorandum of understanding (MOU) on critical minerals supply chain cooperation, which was inked in 2022 and expired this February. The ministry also asked for the Indonesian government’s special attention so that Korean companies operating in the local Indonesian market or buying liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Indonesia are granted stable LNG supply at a reasonable price.  With regard to the Korea-Indonesia small modular reactor (SMR) cooperation proposed by the Indonesian president at the G7 summit in 2023, the two sides discussed follow-up measures to the SMR collaboration MOU entered between Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and Indonesia’s PLN NP. As for Korea Gas Safety Corporation’s safety management support program, Korea requested that the two countries share bilateral data on safety management and that Indonesia provide the main gas facilities and training venue. Meanwhile, an investment business session was also held on the margins of the Forum to facilitate investment cooperation between Korean companies and the Indonesian government.   date2024-11-13

Korea and U.S. Reach Provisional Agreement on Nuclear Cooperation

Consistent with the deep and longstanding relationship between the United States and the Republic of Korea, the two countries reached a significant outcome on November 1, advancing their cooperation on civil nuclear energy by initialing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Principles Concerning Nuclear Exports and Cooperation.  The United States and the Republic of Korea reaffirmed their mutual commitment to promoting the expansion of peaceful nuclear energy while upholding the highest standards of nonproliferation, safety, safeguards, and security. Toward this end, the parties strengthened their administration of export controls on civil nuclear technology.  These further commitments will provide a springboard for the expansion of our bilateral work in combatting climate change, accelerating global energy transitions, and assuring critical supply chains while creating billions of dollars worth of new economic opportunities and the creation or maintenance of tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs for both of our industries. The MOU will proceed to final review in both countries' capitals.   date2024-11-05

Minister Ahn meets Qatar's energy minister and QatarEnergy CEO

Minister for Trade, Industry and Energy Dukgeun Ahn of the Republic of Korea met Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar’s Minister of Energy and the President and CEO of QatarEnergy, today in Seoul for the Korea-Qatar Energy Ministers’ Meeting for discussions on outcomes and follow-ups to the Korea-Qatar summit held last October, as well as stable energy supply and clean energy cooperation. date2024-11-04

Korea and Qatar discuss stable energy supply & clean energy cooperation

Minister for Trade, Industry and Energy Dukgeun Ahn of the Republic of Korea met Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar’s Minister of Energy and the President and CEO of QatarEnergy, today in Seoul for the Korea-Qatar Energy Ministers’ Meeting. As of 2023, Qatar is Korea’s second largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG). With the two countries’ cooperative ties having further advanced on the occasion of the Korea-Qatar Summit held in October 2023, today’s highest-level energy talks were held for discussions on the summit outcomes and follow-up measures. The meeting served as an opportunity to reaffirm both countries’ commitment to stabilizing the energy supply amid recent Middle East tensions and rising global interest towards energy supply issues. Sharing a high regard for their close LNG ties, the two sides agreed to maintain them going forward and further discussed measures for expanding the scope of collaboration based on their successful LNG partnership to push cooperation in renewable energy, hydrogen, and such clean energy sources.  Moreover, Minister Ahn introduced the Korea-led Carbon Free Energy (CFE) Initiative with anticipation for prospects of mutual cooperation. They also discussed energy, plants, LNG carriers, and other areas in which the two countries are currently seeing tangible outcomes ensuing President Yoon Suk Yeol’s state visit to Qatar and the bilateral summit.   date2024-11-04

Donghae, Samcheok and Pohang designated as hydrogen-specialized complexes to power Korea’s hydrogen industry

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo of the Republic of Korea chaired the seventh Hydrogen Economy Committee meeting today in Seoul with the participation of government officials and industry, academia, and research experts. Committee discussions centered on three agenda items including the designation of hydrogen-specialized complexes and support measures, liquid hydrogen carrier super gap strategy, and the Hydrogen City 2.0 Strategy. First, Donghae and Samcheok of Gangwon Province and Pohang of North Gyeongsang Province are to be designated as Korea’s first hydrogen-specialized complexes to promote the integration of hydrogen companies and nurture the regions into a central hub to lead the growth of the domestic hydrogen industry. Companies in the Seoul capital area deciding to move into these specialized complexes will be provided catered incentives such as a preferential subsidy rate (up 2 percent), permission to enter private contracts for industrial land, as well as support for buyer-supplier joint R&D, demonstration and pilot distribution projects, and manpower training. Second, the Government will prepare to meet the rise in global hydrogen transport demand, while actively supporting the early securing of large-scale liquid hydrogen carrier technology to gain super gap competitiveness and preoccupy new markets.  To this end, efforts will go into developing foundational MPE (materials, parts, equipment) technologies for liquid hydrogen storage systems, hydrogen-powered propulsion, and related core materials and equipment, with plans to build the demonstration vessel by 2027, verify technology and safety through land and sea navigation by 2030, and realize large-scale carrier commercialization through scale-ups by 2040. Third, based on the accumulated experience from hydrogen pilot cities (2020–2024), the new Hydrogen City 2.0 Strategy will aim to establish a diverse hydrogen ecosystem across the hydrogen-specialized cities. The cities will be an upgraded version through hydrogen trams, hydrogen trucks, and other hydrogen transportation infrastructure with a greater scope of eco-friendly hydrogen production facilities. Hydrogen fuel cells will be installed in various different types of buildings including those for industrial complexes, cultural centers, and silver towns. Prime Minister Han stated in his opening address that hydrogen is a carbon-free energy source recognized as a key means for carbon reduction at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP28), as well as a promising future industry estimated to reach trillions of dollars in global market size by 2050. He underscored that the Korean government will swiftly push the policies passed by the Committee to establish a comprehensive hydrogen industrial ecosystem and concentrate on policy endeavors to lead the global hydrogen economy.   date2024-11-01

Korea aiming for “Nuclear Renaissance,” commemorates Shin Hanul 1 & 2 final completion

Minister for Trade, Industry and Energy Dukgeun Ahn of the Republic of Korea attended the final completion ceremony of Shin Hanul units 1 and 2 and the groundbreaking ceremony of Shin Hanul units 3 and 4 today held in Uljin County of North Gyeongsang Province with the participation of local residents, nuclear industry personnel, nuclear energy majoring university students, and Korea Nuclear Meister High School students.   Also attending the ceremonies were a number of key industry figures including the Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) President to congratulate the successful completion of Shin Hanul 1 and 2, as well as the groundbreaking of the Shin Hanul 3 and 4 following the recently granted construction permit.   As a twin unit, Shin Hanul 1 and 2 each began commercial operation in December 2022 and April 2024, respectively. They are Korea’s seventh case of APR1400 technology application.   Their final completion is meaningful in that Shin Hanul 1 and 2 can help secure a more stable power source to respond to the sharply rising power demand brought on by the rise of high-tech industries. The amount of power needed to operate a single cutting-edge semiconductor production facility requires 1–1.5GW of electrical power, so by this calculation, Shin Hanul units 1 and 2 are producing enough power to run 2–3 semiconductor plants.   Moreover, the completion of the two units signal another step towards achieving carbon neutrality. As nuclear energy is a carbon-free energy source, carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced by roughly 17.9 million metric tons per annum on the premise that Shin Hanul units 1 and 2 are to replace coal-fired power generation.   Lastly, the activation of Shin Hanul 1 and 2 is expected to considerably help improve Korea’s trade balance and reduce energy imports in view of the nation’s given conditions. Should the two units replace LNG power generation, more than 1.37 million tons of LNG imports will be trimmed, generating approximately KRW 1.5 trillion worth of import substitution effect.   Meanwhile, the Yoon administration further made the decision to resume construction of Shin Hanul units 3 and 4 under the new regime’s energy policy directions announced in July 2022 with an aim to normalize the then flailing nuclear energy industry hit by the previous phase-out policy.   In tandem with the Yoon administration’s decision, the Korean government continued to increase the supply of work across the nuclear industry to restore the ecosystem. Through collaboration with policy funding institutions, the Government has been providing loans and guarantees to troubled SMEs and middle-market companies to heighten liquidity in the wake of the nuclear phase-out.   As a result, the size and scale of the nuclear energy industry and related business investments have turned to an expansion since the current administration’s taking office, laying down the groundwork for Korea’s nuclear power industry to make new leaps.   The completion of the Shin Hanul units 1 and 2 and the groundbreaking of units 3 and 4 are considered a decisive step towards realizing the full normalization of Korea’s nuclear energy ecosystem, alongside KHNP’s recent selection as preferred bidder for the Czech Republic’s new nuclear reactor project. Building on this momentum, the Korean government plans to push the following four chief policy tasks to develop the nation’s nuclear industry into a global powerhouse.   First, the Government will establish a support system to enhance the domestic ecosystem’s competitiveness by designing a predictable and sustainable mid-to-long term nuclear energy policy, while promptly moving forward legislative procedures for the special act on nuclear industry assistance to maintain consistent support. It also plans to announc date2024-10-30