Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Vice Minister Meets China’s Vice Minister of Science and Technology

Korea’s Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Ho-hyeon met with China’s Vice Minister of Science and Technology Chen Jiachang on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at BEXCO in Busan, Korea. The two sides discussed bilateral energy cooperation during the 16th Clean Energy Ministerial Meeting and the 10th Mission Innovation Ministerial Meeting held at the same venue. date2025-09-08

Vice Minister Meets Finland’s State Secretary to the Minister of Employment

Korea’s Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Ho-hyeon met with Finland’s State Secretary to the Minister of Employment Mika Nykänen on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at BEXCO in Busan, Korea. The two sides discussed bilateral energy cooperation during the 16th Clean Energy Ministerial Meeting and the 10th Mission Innovation Ministerial Meeting held at the same venue. date2025-09-08

Minister Meets US Secretary of Energy

Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan met with US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright on Friday, August 22, 2025 at the Department of Energy headquarters in Washington, DC. The two sides discussed measures to strengthen bilateral energy cooperation ahead of the Korea-US summit. date2025-08-27

16th Clean Energy Ministerial Meeting and 10th Mission Innovation Ministerial Meeting Convene in Busan

Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) is hosting the 16th Clean Energy Ministerial Meeting (CEM16) and the 10th Mission Innovation Ministerial Meeting (MI-10) from August 25 to August 27, 2025, at BEXCO in Busan. Held as part of Energy Super Week, the meetings are taking place alongside the 2025 World Climate Industry EXPO (WCE) and the 15th APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting. CEM and MI are leading global platforms for public-private cooperation, bringing together a wide range of climate and energy stakeholders to discuss expanding clean energy and to explore collaborative measures for accelerating clean energy innovation. Under the theme, “Energizing Cooperation for a Prosperous Future,” this year’s meetings are drawing around 1,000 participants, including 41 government delegations and representatives from 111 international organizations. As chair of CEM16 and MI-10, Korea is steering discussions on global energy priorities to address challenges posed by the climate crisis. To facilitate practical public-private cooperation, four high-level roundtable dialogues have been convened, bringing together ministers, vice ministers, international business leaders, and officials from international organizations. In the power transformation session, ministers and vice ministers met with leading companies in power technologies—including LS Cable & System, Hyosung Heavy Industries, and Bloom Energy—to discuss carbon-free power generation and grid infrastructure to meet rising demand from AI, data centers, and electric vehicles, as well as power system reforms to accelerate the clean energy transition. The industry decarbonization and energy efficiency session covered private sector efforts to cut emissions in hard-to-abate industries such as steel and shared business models and financial mechanisms to improve energy efficiency. In the future fuels session, government officials from countries highly interested in advancing hydrogen and other future fuels met with Korean companies with strengths in the hydrogen sector, such as Hyundai Motor and Kolon Industries. Participants reaffirmed the decarbonization potential of future fuels—such as clean hydrogen, ammonia, and e-fuels—in industry and transportation, and discussed ways to expand deployment and investment. The energy and AI session brought together Microsoft, Google, NVIDIA, LG Energy Solution, and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), along with ministerial-level officials. Participants examined both sides of the AI–energy nexus—rising energy demand driven by AI and energy innovation enabled by AI—and exchanged views on how the two can develop in tandem. Power transformation and future fuels will also be key topics at the G20 Energy Transitions Working Group Ministerial Meeting in October 2025 and the United Nations Climate Change Conference in November 2025, respectively. Korea expects CEM16 and MI-10to help deepen discussion on these global energy agendas. Vice Minister Lee Ho-hyeon of MOTIE stated that CEM16 and MI-10 served as valuable platforms for discussing energy transition, energy security, and energy technology innovation. He expressed hope that the meetings hosted in Korea this year will mark an important turning point for the wider deployment of innovative energy technologies, tangible solution-building, and a stronger commitment to solidarity. date2025-08-27

Global Energy Leaders to Gather in Busan as Energy Super Week Opens August 25

Energy Super Week will take place from August 25 to 29, 2025, at BEXCO and Nurimaru Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) House in Busan, Korea. This international event brings together global energy leaders in conjunction with the 2025 World Climate Industry EXPO (WCE), the 16th Clean Energy Ministerial Meeting (CEM16), the 10th Mission Innovation Ministerial Meeting (MI-10), and the 15th APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting. The five-day event has been organized through inter-ministerial cooperation led by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA). As chair of APEC 2025 KOREA, CEM16, and MI-10, Korea will advance discussions on global energy priorities and present AI-driven energy innovation and climate response strategies under the theme “Energy for AI & AI for Energy. More than 40 government delegations, 65 international organizations and institutions, 1,300 high-level participants—including global business executives—and 540 companies are expected to participate, positioning Korea as a focal point for international energy cooperation. 2025 WCE: Platform for AI and Energy Innovation ❶ The 2025 World Climate Industry EXPO (WCE) will be held from August 27 to 29, 2025, at BEXCO and co-hosted by the Korean government, the International Energy Agency (IEA), and the World Bank (WB). The expo expands this year from a joint Korea–IEA event to a Korea–IEA–World Bank co-hosted event, raising its profile as a platform for global cooperation. Following opening remarks by Korea’s Prime Minister, leading figures in the global energy and climate sectors—including Fatih Birol, Executive Director of IEA, and Michelle Patron, Director of Sustainability Policy at Microsoft—will deliver keynote addresses.  ❷ The 2025 WCE will feature 12 global conferences, four of which are organized directly by international bodies such as IEA, WB, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Sessions will cover energy and AI, smart energy systems, and low-carbon innovation strategies, with participation from major global tech companies such as Microsoft, Google, NVIDIA, and General Electric. Korean ministries and organizations will also run sessions to advance discussions on climate and energy solutions with international partners. Hosts include MOTIE, the Presidential Commission on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth (PCNCGG), Busan Metropolitan City, MSIT, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), the Korea Forest Service (KFS), and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). ❸ The 2025 WCE will operate six exhibition halls showcasing around 540 companies, including Samsung and LG. Exhibits will highlight innovations across offshore wind, hydrogen, and carbon reduction technologies. In the newly established “Energy Highway” hall, Korean power equipment companies will present next-generation power grids, high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems, energy storage systems (ESS), and digital power solutions. The hall will provide a dedicated venue to present the new Korean administration’s vision for energy transition to the international community. ❹ Alongside the conferences and exhibitions, the event will also offer a job fair and global networking programs, with participation from 45 Korean public energy corporations, Germany’s RWE, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), and WB. The programs are expected to generate new job opportunities and expand international cooperation. Public engagement programs include a science YouTuber’s talk concert on August 28, 2025, an AI-robot camera experience, and a drone show at Gwangalli Beach on August 27 2025. APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting: Advancing Global Policymaking and Cooperation Ministerial meetings wi date2025-08-26

Minister Meets TerraPower Chairman Bill Gates

Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan met with TerraPower Chairman Bill Gates on Friday, August 22, 2025, at Conrad Seoul to discuss energy cooperation between TerraPower and Korean companies. date2025-08-22

Minister Meets U.S. Secretary of Energy

Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan met with U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright on July 23 (local time) in Washington, D.C. to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the energy sector. date2025-07-28

MOTIE and Hyundai Motor Group Sign MOU

Trade, Industry and Energy Vice Minister Lee Hohyeon attended the signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)  between the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and Hyundai Motor Group on July 22 at Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang in Gyeonggi Province. The event was organized to establish cooperation for providing eco-friendly vehicles, including hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs), during Energy Super Week.  Before the ceremony, Vice Minister  Lee toured the exhibition space inside the studio. Through this MOU, MOTIE and Hyundai Motor Group will support the provision of eco-friendly vehicles for ministerial-level delegates, representatives, and international organizations participating in the APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting . Attendees included officials from MOTIE and Hyundai Motor Group, among them Dongwook Kim, Executive Vice President  of Hyundai Motor Company.  date2025-07-23

Korea and Cambodia Launch First Article 6.2 Climate Project

Korea has officially launched its first carbon mitigation project under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, in partnership with the Kingdom of Cambodia. The project was authorized by the Cambodian government on July 18, 2025, and commemorated at an official ceremony on July 21, 2025, in Phnom Penh, marking a major milestone in Korea’s global climate action and bilateral cooperation. The approved project, led by Korean private company VeryWords, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Cambodia’s transport sector through the deployment of electric motorcycles and the development of charging infrastructure over a ten-year period (2025–2034). The project is expected to reduce 680,000 tCO2eq, of which 400,000 tons will be transferred to Korea and counted toward its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). “This is the first approved outcome of Korea’s investment support program, launched in 2023, which provides upfront financing to Korean companies and recovers the investment later in the form of carbon credits,” a MOTIE official said. Article 6.2 in Action: From Framework to Implementation The Ministry of Environment of Cambodia issued a Letter of Authorization (LOA) under its national Article 6 governance framework, officially allowing the project to commence operations in accordance with Cambodia’s rules and procedures. The LOA followed work by a joint working group involving Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment, and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). On the Korean side, KOTRA and the Korea Energy Agency (KEA) also took part. The group reviewed key project elements, including the methodology, total emission reductions, and allocation ratios, laying the groundwork for the official authorization. Advancing Structural Cooperation Through High-Level Dialogue Building on this achievement, Korea and Cambodia are working to expand cooperation beyond individual projects. On July 21–22,2025, high-level bilateral meetings and an International Mitigation Forum were held in Phnom Penh to discuss future collaboration in the transport sector. MOTIE held bilateral meetings with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) and the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) of Cambodia, focusing on government-to-government partnerships in the transport sector.   The forum also brought together key stakeholders from government, industry, and international organizations to discuss future mitigation projects and ways to align carbon market strategies. “This project shows that bilateral cooperation under Article 6.2 is moving into implementation,” said the MOTIE official. “By aligning Cambodia’s policy leadership with Korea’s technology and investment, the two countries are laying the groundwork for scalable, long-term climate partnerships beyond individual projects.” date2025-07-21

MOTIE Holds Energy Super Week Briefing for Foreign Embassies in Korea

On July 8, 2025, Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE, Minister Ahn Duk-geun) held a briefing for foreign embassies in Korea on the upcoming Energy Super Week (Aug. 25–29 2025) in Seoul. During the session, MOTIE outlined the event’s main programs and the newly elected administration’s energy policy directions, requesting the foreign embassies’ interest and support. The briefing was attended by 43 foreign embassies in Korea including those of Japan, the EU, the UK, and Vietnam. Four major events are lined up for Energy Super Week in Busan: the APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting (Aug. 27–28 2025), 16th Clean Energy Ministerial (Aug. 25–27 2025), 10th Mission Innovation (MI) Ministerial (Aug. 25–27 2025), and 2025 World Climate Industry EXPO (Aug. 27–29 2025). Energy ministers, government delegations, and business leaders of 40 member economies, as well as relevant international organizations, will gather at the events to discuss future energy outlooks and solutions. The APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting will cover key agendas such as power grid infrastructure, energy security, stable power supply, and AI-powered energy innovation. At the 16th Clean Energy Ministerial and the 10th Mission Innovation Ministerial, participants will discuss energy efficiency, power transition, future fuels such as hydrogen, AI-enabled energy innovation, and carbon reduction technologies. In late August, MOTIE will co-host the 2025 World Climate Industry EXPO with the International Energy Agency (IEA) and World Bank (WB) under the theme of “Energy for AI & AI for Energy.” Featured speakers will include IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol and WB Vice President Manuela Ferro. The program will consist of three major summits—the Global Leadership Summit, the Energy & AI Summit, and the Climate Summit—as well as 12 specialized conferences and side events, including recruitment sessions and business consultations. Visitors can also experience the latest and next-generation climate and energy technologies  at various booths set up by Samsung, LG, Doosan Enerbility, Hanwha Qcells, and other global companies. date2025-07-08