Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Korea to Strengthen Energy Cooperation with Türkiye and Saudi Arabia

Deputy Minister for Energy Policy Lee Ho-hyeon at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE, Minister Ahn Duk-geun) will visit the Republic of Türkiye and Saudi Arabia from February 24 to 27, 2025, for high-level intergovernmental talks on bilateral energy cooperation in areas including nuclear power, power grids, hydrogen, and petroleum. On February 24, Deputy Minister Lee is meeting with Turkish Deputy Ministers of Energy and Natural Resources Zafer Demircan and Ahmet Berat Çonkar to exchange views on various bilateral energy agendas, including nuclear power and clean energy. To secure a stable energy supply, Türkiye is seeking to build a 20GW nuclear reactor by 2050. In addition to implementing the Akkuyu nuclear power plant (NPP) project launched in 2010, the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources is currently seeking contractors for new nuclear power projects in the Sinop and Thrace. The high-level visit will resume government-level dialogue on nuclear power between the two countries for the first time in 13 years and is expected to give momentum to further discussions. On February 26, Deputy Minister Lee will also meet with Saudi Arabia’s Assistant Minister of Energy for Electricity Affairs Nasser Al-Qahtani to discuss policy trends and bilateral cooperation regarding large-scale NPP projects, power grid expansions, and clean hydrogen. Saudi Arabia is diversifying its energy mix and transitioning to an energy system suitable for sustainable growth, creating considerable potential for collaboration with Korea over a wide range of energy sectors. “We will closely examine the policies adopted by countries to promote sustainable development and respond to climate change,” said Deputy Minister Lee. “We will also work to strengthen energy cooperation with Europe and the Middle East so that these efforts create new opportunities for Korean companies.” date2025-02-24

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 Advance Carbon-Free Energy Technology Cooperation at Joint Forum

On February 18, 2025, Vice Minister Choe Nam-ho of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE, Minister Ahn Duk-geun) attended the Korea-Czech Republic Energy Technology 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 brought together roughly 150 industry, academic, and research experts and government officials from both countries, including Czech Minister for Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček, TACR Chairman Petr Konvalinka, and KETEP President Lee SeungJae, to discuss bilateral cooperation in energy technology. During the presentation session, Korean and Czech experts shared the latest technology trends and proposed future technology collaboration, focusing on power grids and energy storage systems (ESS), as well as carbon-free energy areas such as nuclear power and clean hydrogen. In the subsequent panel discussions and networking session, participants broadened their mutual understanding of various technology fields and explored potential 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 could create meaningful opportunities in the transition to carbon neutrality by generating synergy between Korean and Czech businesses. He added that MOTIE will continue supporting joint research based on close bilateral cooperation to help create new business opportunities in the energy sector. MOTIE plans to further develop the cooperation measures discussed at today’s Forum through consultations with relevant Czech authorities in selecting new Korea-Czech projects for international joint research. date2025-02-18

Korea and Czech Republic Hold Second Supply Chain and Energy Dialogue (SCED)

Minister Ahn Duk-geun of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) held the second Supply Chain and Energy Dialogue (SCED) meeting with the Czech Minister for Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček in Seoul on February 17, 2025. Launched in September 2024, the SCED is a Korea-Czech Republic cooperation channel aimed at strengthening bilateral strategic partnership and laying the foundation for comprehensive economic cooperation across trade, industry, and energy, including nuclear power. At the second meeting, the two sides reviewed progress in trade, investment, supply chains, advanced industries, carbon-free energy, and nuclear power and discussed in-depth discussions on future cooperative measures. In view of growing protectionism, both sides shared examples of response to supply chain disruptions and discussed measures to expand bilateral trade. In advanced industries, they discussed steps to establish cooperation centers in batteries, future mobility, and robotics and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on semiconductor cooperation in R&D and workforce training.  Regarding carbon-free energy, the Korean delegation shared Korea’s energy efficiency policies for industrial, energy, and transport sectors, and both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation on clean hydrogen technology development. 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 workforce training. At the Korea-Czech Republic investment and business conference held on the sidelines of the SCED, businesses and institutions from the two countries signed a total of six MOUs. Minister Ahn expressed hope that the two countries would expand bilateral trade and investment and broader cooperation across advanced manufacturing, supply chains, and energy and other areas. 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 called for the smooth conclusion of the final contract for the construction of new reactors in Dukovany and proposed taking bilateral relations to an entirely new level. date2025-02-17

CFE Global Working Group Launches Inaugural Meeting

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE, Minister Ahn Duk-geun) held the CFE Global Working Group meeting on February 7, 2025, via videoconference. Participants included delegations from the Czech Republic, Japan, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the International Energy Agency (IEA), and the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) Secretariat. Participants discussed 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 promotes the technology-neutral approach of 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 stated that the CFE Global Working Group will 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 hope that its work would help build a stronger cooperation base. Meanwhile, Korea, the Czech Republic, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreed to deepen discussions for an early establishment of CFE implementation standards, while also stepping up cooperation to make progress at the CEM Ministerial meeting slated for August 25, 2025. 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 Launches Full-Scale Efforts to Enter Global Power Grid Market

Deputy Minister for Energy Policy Lee Ho-hyeon at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) chaired the first general meeting of the K-Grid Export Alliance at the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-SURE) in Seoul on February 4, 2025. The meeting of the Alliance, which was launched in December 2024, focused on creating new opportunities for Korean businesses in the global power infrastructure market. Since announcing its strategy for the global power grid market in December 2024, MOTIE worked with export support institutions to concretize measures for boosting exports in 2025.  First, K-SURE will 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 in 2025. It will also expand the range of relevant export items to include energy storage systems (ESS).  Moreover, MOTIE and the Korea Electric Association (KEA) will jointly coordinate overseas trade shows for power grids and related equipment, which were previously managed separately by different institutions. The new arrangement will 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. Participants discussed export strategies in light of the emerging uncertainties as well as opportunities, such as the growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and datacenters. They also explored business models capable of meeting the complex needs of local overseas markets based on Korean companies’ expertise in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) 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 Step Up Cooperation in Carbon Regulation Response

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE, Minister Ahn Duk-geun) and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) held the second Korea-Japan Global Green Policy Dialogue in Seoul on January 17, 2025, and discussed cooperation in responding to global carbon regulations, as well as carbon-neutrality policies and clean energy. Launched as a follow-up to the meeting between the two countries’ trade and industry ministers’ 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 agreed to work together to prevent global carbon regulations from becoming trade barriers. They also reaffirmed the need for cooperation in clean energy and agreed to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation toward carbon neutrality.  MOTIE’s Director General for New Trade Strategy and Policy Support Shim Jin-soo stated that as countries move to introduce carbon-related regulations, broader cooperation with likeminded countries such as Japan will help strengthen 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 to effectively respond to the green transformation and other related changes across the global landscape. Going forward, the Korean government plans to step up support to strengthen domestic companies’ ability to respond to 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