Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Korea makes official launch of CFE Global Working Group

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea announced on October 6 that the Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) Initiative officially launched its global working group (“CFE Global Working Group”) on October 3. Moreover, Korea will be serving as chair of the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) in 2025. At the 15th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) and the G20 Energy Ministerial held through October 1–4 in Brazil, the Korean delegation highlighted the need to harness various carbon-free energy sources. At CEM, it announced the official launch of the CFE Global Working Group and convened a kickoff meeting.  The CFE Global Working Group is a consultative body for discussions on CFE implementation standards and utilization measures with the participation of Korea, Japan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Czech Republic, and the International Energy Agency (IEA). Going forward, it is expected that the scope of participation will keep expanding. At the CFE Global Working Group kickoff meeting, MOTIE Minister Dukgeun Ahn emphasized via a video message how Korea has been laying the groundwork for consensus building with various countries over the use of diverse carbon-free energy sources, sharing plans to continue discussions through the CFE Global Working Group. Head of the Clean Energy Ministerial Secretariat Jean-François Gagné also expressed strong agreement to the need for utilizing all carbon-free energy sources, voicing support for the CFE Initiative’s role in the international community. First proposed by Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol during the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September 2023, the CFE Initiative has thus far won the support of a total of 10 countries and international organizations. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP28) resolution (December 2023) and the IEA 2024 Ministerial Meeting (February 2024) joint communique both reaffirm the need to utilize technology-neutral carbon-free energy sources.  In view of member countries’ support for Korea’s chairmanship of next year’s CEM, the international community’s shared understanding for the CFE initiative is anticipated to widen further in the future.   date2024-10-07

Vice Minister attends H2 MEET 2024

MOTIE’s Vice Minister Namho Choe attended the opening ceremony of H2 MEET 2024 held from September 25–27 at KINTEX in Goyang City with the participation of 317 companies and institutions from 24 countries and gave a congratulatory address and toured the exhibition booths. date2024-09-26

H2 MEET 2024 takes off at historic scale, accelerating hydrogen economies around the world

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) announced today that the H2 Mobility Energy Environment Technology (“H2 MEET 2024”) exhibition will be held from September 25–27 at KINTEX in Goyang City. The fifth of its kind, H2 MEET 2024 has drawn participation of a record number of 317 companies and institutions from 24 countries this year and showcases prominent products and technologies representing each area of the hydrogen industry spanning production, storage, transport, and utilization. Major companies from around the world have set up booths displaying hydrogen-powered engines, tractors, cargo bikes and other hydrogen mobility products as well as a variety of items for hydrogen storage and transport such as clean hydrogen production facilities for electrolysis and carbon capture, hydrogen liquefaction tanks, pipelines, and chargers. Also in the lineup are a number of sidelines events: the Leaders Summit for discussing latest trends of the global hydrogen industry and technologies; Country Day for introducing hydrogen policies of Australia, Canada, and the U.S. among other major countries; H2 Innovation Award for selecting innovative and outstanding companies in hydrogen technology; and a trade consultation for supporting Korean businesses’ overseas market entry. MOTIE’s Vice Minister Namho Choe attended the opening ceremony, stating that the Korean government will actively assist the effort to establish a hydrogen ecosystem through various policies such as launching the clean hydrogen power bidding market and increasing the distribution of hydrogen buses.   date2024-09-25

Korea-Czech Industry and Energy Technology Cooperation Forum

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn and Czech Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Sikela attended the Korea-Czech Industry and Energy Technology Cooperation Forum on September 20 in Prague with the participation of both countries’ academia, industry, and research experts in R&D. date2024-09-23

Korea and Czech Republic hold Industry & Energy Technology Cooperation Forum to step up high-tech collaboration

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea held the Korea-Czech Industry and Energy Technology Cooperation Forum (“Forum”) on September 20 in Prague to bolster cooperation with the Czech Republic, which holds world-leading technology in advanced manufacturing industries like high precision engineering, optics, and nanomaterials. Participating in the Forum were 40 top R&D institutions from the Czech Republic including Czech Technical University and the Czech Academy of Sciences as well as a number of academic, industrial, and research institutions from Korea such as Korea Photonics Technology Institute (KOPTI), Hyundai Motor, and Sungkyunkwan University.  Twelve memorandums of understanding (MOUs) were signed between the two countries to identify projects for joint technology cooperation in various areas like robot, laser source, and hydrogen, increasing anticipation for substantial technology exchanges and collaboration ensuing the Forum. In areas where bilateral cooperation is currently ongoing such as high precision engineering and optics, the two sides aim to uncover mid-to-large sized R&D projects to achieve impactful outcomes. Moreover, Korea’s master’s and doctoral researchers will be sent to study at prestigious Czech universities to promote active technology exchanges and joint research between the two countries’ innovative talents. For this aim, MOTIE will be providing KRW 70 billion for joint Korea-Czech R&D. The ministry plans to discuss the prospects of establishing a Korea-Czech industrial cooperation foundation for paving the way to stable bilateral technology collaboration between the two countries’ academia, industries, and research institutions. MOTIE Minister Dukgeun Ahn assessed that Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s state visit has created the opportunity for both countries to step up cooperation in cutting-edge technology, vowing continued effort to uncover impactful joint projects on the occasion of this Forum to assist Korean firms’ open innovation.   date2024-09-23

Korea and Czech Republic to establish cooperative system over entire nuclear energy cycle

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea announced that Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala attended the memorandums of understanding (MOUs) signing ceremony on September 20 at Doosan Škoda Power in Pilsen, Czech Republic, for the two countries’ bilateral cooperation across the entire nuclear energy cycle. First, MOTIE Minister Dukgeun Ahn and the Czech Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Sikela signed an MOU for Korea-Czech nuclear cooperation, agreeing to collaborate not only on nuclear reactor construction but to push across-the-board cooperation including manpower training and technological development. To this end, the two countries will be launching a director general-level consultative channel to discuss detailed cooperation measures. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), Doosan Enerbility, and Doosan Škoda Power sealed an agreement on the Czech new reactor project’s turbine supply, which Doosan Škoda Power will undertake upon KHNP’s inking of the final contract in March 2025. Doosan Škoda Power, acquired by Doosan Enerbility in 2009, owns foundational technology for steam turbine manufacturing and has supplied for the Dukovany (Units 1–4) and Temelin (Units 1 and 2) power plants. The Czech Republic’s Brno University of Technology (BUT) and Korea’s KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School (KINGS) also forged an MOU on training nuclear energy talent. They agreed to establish a nuclear cooperation center at BUT to nurture master’s and doctoral graduates, train incumbent workers, and launch joint research projects in an effort to raise professional manpower. The Korea Atomic Industrial Forum (KAIF) and Czech Power Industry Alliance (CPIA) signed an MOU for localization cooperation, aiming to seek wide-ranging joint project opportunities for both countries’ businesses and provide support for the development of the materials and equipment supply chain. The Korean Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) and the University of West Bohemia entered into an MOU on technology cooperation for nuclear technology information exchange, joint research, talent exchange, and mid-to-long term research collaboration.  The two countries’ nuclear energy firms and related institutions sealed further MOUs for cooperation over a variety of areas such as materials and equipment, construction, design, trial operation, nuclear fuel, and radioactive waste management. Meanwhile, MOTIE plans to discuss with the Czech authorities the prompt launching of a director general-level consultative channel for a thorough implementation of follow-up measures.   date2024-09-23

Roadmaps to New Nuclear 2024 Conference

Deputy Minister for Energy Policy Lee Ho-hyeon attended the Roadmaps to New Nuclear 2024 conference on September 19 at the OECD Conference Center in Paris, France, where he introduced Korea’s nuclear energy policies.   The conference was attended by high-level government officials of 20 countries, CEOs of 40 nuclear energy companies, as well as relevant experts for discussions on measures to expand nuclear new build projects worldwide and accelerate the distribution of small modular reactors (SMRs). date2024-09-23

Korea and Czech Republic seek wider cooperation via joint Business Forum

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea announced today that a large-scale Korea-Czech Republic Business Forum (“Forum”) was co-hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Czech Chamber of Commerce, and the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic today (local time) in Prague on the occasion of Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s state visit to the Czech Republic. The Forum was attended by roughly 470 persons, including Korea’s economic delegation comprising representatives of economic groups, large- and medium-sized companies, SMEs, public institutions, and relevant associations. Forum attendees took stock of the Korea-Czech collaboration in advanced industries and infrastructure, exchanging views on promising areas for future cooperation. Among advanced industries, the potential for bilateral cooperation is considered high in future mobility, battery, and robot. For infrastructure, strong synergy is anticipated in high speed rail and the Ukraine recovery and reconstruction project. Moreover, Korea entered into a total of 14 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with the Czech Republic to further expand its industrial cooperation base with the Central European manufacturing powerhouse across various areas like corporate support, advanced industries (battery, future mobility), energy (hydrogen), nuclear reactors, and infrastructure (high speed rail, Ukraine reconstruction project). On the margins of the state visit, 20 more MOUs are to be sealed through nuclear and advanced industry related events. Taking this Forum as an opportunity to look back on the bilateral cooperation outcomes spanning the past 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1990, Korean and Czech business leaders were able to build a shared understanding for comprehensive and across-the-board economic cooperation in not only nuclear energy but over diverse industrial sectors. The Korean government plans to continue consultations with the Czech authorities for wider bilateral cooperation, while also assisting corporate activities to ensure that the MOUs develop into tangible business projects. date2024-09-20

Korea shares nuclear policies at Roadmaps to New Nuclear 2024

Deputy Minister for Energy Policy Lee Ho-hyeon attended the Roadmaps to New Nuclear 2024 conference on September 19 at the OECD Conference Center in Paris, France, where he introduced Korea’s nuclear energy policies. The conference was attended by high-level government officials of 20 countries, CEOs of 40 nuclear energy companies, as well as relevant experts for discussions on measures to expand nuclear new build projects worldwide and accelerate the distribution of small modular reactors (SMRs). The second of its kind since launched last year, Roadmaps to New Nuclear 2024 serves as a meaningful opportunity for Korea in sharing its robust nuclear industrial ecosystem and knowhow in construction and operation safety, particularly in view of recent outcomes such as the selection as preferred bidder for the new Czech nuclear reactor project.  In the first session, the Korean delegation was asked to present its nuclear policy progress and best practices in reactor construction and operation alongside the U.S., France, the UK, and other major nuclear operating countries, followed by a Q&A session. On the occasion of the conference, representatives of the 20 participating countries adopted a joint statement for implementing the global expansion of nuclear reactors. The joint statement reaffirms nuclear energy’s contribution to attaining carbon neutrality and economic stimulation, while also acting as an international pledge for cooperation across diverse areas, such as the development of SMRs and other next-generation technologies, expediting of licensing procedures, and the establishment of a stable supply chain. Lastly, the OECD NEA announced that Korea will be co-hosting Roadmaps to New Nuclear 2025 in September next year.   date2024-09-19

Minister Ahn attends Jangseong Coal Mine closure ceremony

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn attended the ceremony on September 6 marking the closure of the Jangseong Coal Mine in Taebaek City, Gangwon province with the participation of 2,000 persons, including lawmakers, Gangwon province governor, coal mine workers, and local residents.   Minister Ahn presented governmental commendations to five of the Jangseong Coal Mine workers and ensured that the Government will back the region’s efforts to play a major role going forward in the carbon-free energy era as well. date2024-09-09