Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Korean government sharpens EV battery safety and fire response management

The Korean government announced the electric vehicle (EV) fire safety management measures today at the Ministerial Meeting on Current State Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. As the Incheon apartment parking lot EV fire in August fueled nationwide concerns over EV charger safety, the Government has come up with measures to relieve public anxiety and promote EV safety. To this end, related ministries established detailed measures based on consultations with automobile industry insiders, National Assembly discussions, and a high-level meeting of government and ruling party officials (August 25). Through the established measures, the Government aims to strengthen the entire safety management process. First, the EV battery certification system previously scheduled to begin next February will move up to October this year in the form of a pilot project. The extent of information disclosure will include key information, such as the battery maker and manufacturing technology. The list of criteria for battery inspections is to sharply lengthen and the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (TS) will swiftly expand the battery testing infrastructure. The battery data tracing system is to launch as planned in February 2025. Beginning next year, automakers not insured against product liability losses will not be eligible for EV subsidies, and the Government is considering mandating companies to buy product liability insurance. As for charge point operators (CPOs), the proposed bill on CPOs’ no-fault insurance mandate is under review.  For battery safety, the Government will work on improving the EV battery management system (BMS) functions. Hyundai, Kia and other major automakers have plans to provide free-of-charge installation of BMS for older models lacking the system. For cars already equipped with the safety system, companies plan to offer free-of-charge performance upgrades. Moreover, the Government will establish BMS standards for battery danger levels by the end of the year. Starting in the first half of 2025, firefighting authorities will be alerted of battery danger warnings of cars whose owners have agreed to information provision. The Government also aims to enhance fire prevention with fail-safe smart EV chargers that enable operators to control charging sessions, proposing to increase their distribution from this year’s 20,000 to 71,000 units in 2025. Slow-speed battery chargers are to be replaced with smart chargers taking account their lifespan and nearby firefighting facility. Based on many experts’ opinion that prompt sprinkler activation is most effective in preventing the spread of fire, the Government plans to minimize areas vulnerable to safety management through improving and expanding the provision of related equipment. All new buildings’ underground parking lots will require the installation of a wet pipe sprinkler system for fire emergencies, but the installation of pre-action sprinklers will be allowed for buildings with high risk of freezing and bursting pipes. In addition, related authorities will strengthen punishment on unauthorized disabling of sprinklers and other firefighting equipment. In light of the public sentiment toward recent EV fire accidents, the mandatory installation of charging points (2 percent) scheduled for implementation beginning in January has been granted a one-year grace period with the cooperation of local government bodies. Laws will be amended by the first half of 2025 to require the use of fire-resistant materials in building the walls, ceilings, and columns of underground parking lots for better fire prevention. To enhance fire response capacity, all 240 fire stations in the country by next year will be supplied with an increased number of EV firefighting equipment. Through public-private collaboration, the Government plans to develop small-sized, unmanned firefighting vehicles for easier access into date2024-09-06

Korea and Czech Republic discuss ways to strengthen comprehensive cooperation in nuclear, trade, industry, and energy

Korea’s Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn met Tomáš Pojar, the Czech National Security Adviser and special envoy of Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, on September 5 in Seoul to express appreciation over the selection of Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) as the preferred bidder for the new Czech reactor project and discuss measures for diversifying cooperation in not only nuclear power but also in trade, investment, industries, and energy. Addressing the two countries’ progress in consultations for establishing a cooperative system spanning all areas of nuclear energy including talent training and technology development, Minister Ahn conveyed anticipation towards creating a singular nuclear ecosystem together under the vision of Korea-Czech Republic joint project execution. During detailed discussions on economic cooperation in trade, investment, industries, and energy, he affirmed the importance of continuously enlarging their intergovernmental cooperation for establishing the base for all-out industrial cooperation. In this view, he stated that he looks forward to a stronger intergovernmental cooperation channel and concrete discussions between their private sectors to accelerate bilateral trade and investment as well as technology exchange. Lastly, Minister Ahn shared his expectations of seeing Korea and the Czech Republic build on the momentum spurred by this nuclear project for a wider scope of multi-level and multi-faceted cooperation in trade, investment, advanced industries, and energy. He highlighted the need for the two countries’ governments to take the initiative in laying down the institutional framework for expanding their comprehensive and forward-looking cooperation.   date2024-09-06

Korea-Japan Energy Policy Dialogue

Korea’s Director General for Energy Policy Choi Yeon-woo (right in photo) at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and Japan’s Director General for International Policy on Carbon Neutrality Kihara Shinichi at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) jointly held the Korea-Japan Energy Policy Dialogue on September 5 in Busan and discussed clean energy cooperation and launching of CFE global working group. date2024-09-06

Vice Minister attends Clean Hydrogen International Forum

Korea’s Trade, Industry and Energy Vice Minister Namho Choe attended the Clean Hydrogen International Forum on September 4 in Busan and gave congratulatory remarks to Forum participants, including President and CEO of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) Whang Joo-ho and Hyundai Motor Vice President Kim Dong-wook. date2024-09-06

Vice Minister attends Korea-IEA Forum

Korea’s Trade, Industry and Energy Vice Minister Namho Choe attended the Korea-IEA Forum on September 4 at BEXCO in Busan and gave a congratulatory speech to approximately 800 participants, including IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol and representatives of 20 embassies to Korea. date2024-09-06

Vice Minister attends CFE Leaders Roundtable

Korea’s Trade, Industry and Energy Vice Minister Namho Choe attended the CFE Leaders Roundtable on September 4 at BEXCO in Busan alongside KCCI Chairman Chey Tae-won, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, Busan Mayor Park Heong-Joon, and the representatives of 30 embassies to Korea, 24 national delegations, and those of 10 international organizations and companies. date2024-09-06

Korea and Japan gear up joint efforts to catalyze carbon-free energy utilization

Korea’s Director General for Energy Policy Choi Yeon-woo at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and Japan’s Director General for International Policy on Carbon Neutrality Kihara Shinichi at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) jointly held the Korea-Japan Energy Policy Dialogue today on the sidelines of the World Climate Industry EXPO (WCE 2024) in Busan.  In view of Korea and Japan’s high dependence on energy import and similarities in the energy supply and consumption structure, the two sides acknowledged the need to bolster energy security and carbon neutrality response amid the recently unstable global energy market and supply chain crises, agreeing to closely cooperate on expanding clean energy, such as hydrogen, ammonia, and offshore wind power. They also discussed plans for launching a global working group to accelerate the utilization of carbon-free energy sources and shared views regarding the collaboration between Korea’s Carbon Free Energy (CFE) Initiative and Japan’s Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Clean Electricity Initiative (ICEI), the two countries’ respective clean energy campaigns. In April this year, the two sides held bilateral trade and industry ministerial talks, where they agreed to cooperate through the CFE Initiative to achieve carbon neutrality. Furthermore, they reaffirmed their role as co-leads of the global working group to be launched on the margins of the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) slated for October 2024 in Brazil and decided to discuss related issues in detail. With aim to promote carbon-free energy sources for electricity (Scope 2) based on mutual collaboration between the CFE Initiative and ICEI, the two sides exchanged joint measures to this end, such as encouraging IPEF member countries’ participation in the initiative, creating a guidebook for clean electricity procurement companies, and hosting joint seminars. Lastly, the director generals concurred on the importance of utilizing diverse and realistic means to achieve carbon neutrality in recognition of countries’ varying energy situations and industrial conditions, agreeing to further discussions on cooperation measures for carbon neutrality.   date2024-09-05

Vice Minister attends World Climate Industry EXPO opening ceremony

Vice Minister Namho Choe attended the World Climate Industry EXPO (WCE 2024) opening ceremony on September 4 at BEXCO in Busan with other relevant figures, including IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, Busan Mayor Park Heong-Joon, and the representatives of embassies to Korea and overseas national delegations. date2024-09-05

CFE Summit spurs experts’ discussions on measures for global diffusion of carbon-free energy

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), International Energy Agency (IEA), Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), and the CF Alliance launched the CFE Summit today at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO) with the participation of high-level figures, experts, and business leaders from around the world. Part of the World Climate Industry EXPO (WCE 2024) held under the theme of "Ushering in a Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) Era with Climate Technology,” the CFE Summit consisted of the CFE Leaders Roundtable, Korea-IEA Forum, and the CFE Initiative. The CFE Leaders Roundtable was attended by MOTIE’s Vice Minister Namho Choe, KCCI Chairman Chey Tae-won, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, Busan Mayor Park Heong-Joon, CF Alliance Chairman Lee Hoe-sung, and Presidential Commission on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth Co-Chairperson Kim Sang-hyup, alongside the representatives of 30 embassies to Korea, 24 national delegations, and those of 10 international organizations and companies. Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo shared a video message highlighting that carbon-free energy sources, in view of their eco-friendliness and stability, are the solution to dealing with the rising power demand across AI and advanced industries. He pledged that the Government will increase the share of carbon-free energy sources in Korea’s energy mix from 40 percent (as of 2023) to 70 percent by 2038, legislate special laws on power grid expansion, and give full measure to facilitating the R&D of core technologies and manpower training. Next, the Korea-IEA Forum jointly organized by MOTIE and IEA was attended by IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, MOTIE’s Vice Minister Namho Choe, Japan’s Director General for International Policy on Carbon Neutrality Kihara Shinichi at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), IEA Chief Energy Economist Tim Gould, and representatives of 20 embassies to Korea. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol gave a congratulatory message stating that it is essential to harness all technologies and energy sources, including nuclear, clean hydrogen, and CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and storage) in attaining carbon neutrality by 2050, underscoring that the CFE Initiative is a good example of the necessary leadership for maintaining energy security while also realizing climate goals.  Vice Minister Choe also gave a congratulatory speech forecasting that the carbon-free energy joint statement issued by Korea and IEA will help accelerate the CFE Initiative’s global diffusion and carbon neutrality achievement by 2050. The panel discussion had experts exchange views on financial models for supporting carbon-free energy technologies, clean hydrogen expansion, and carbon-free energy cooperation in the APEC region. Lastly, the CFE Initiative Conference organized by the CF Alliance was attended by CF Alliance Chairman Lee Hoe-sung, India’s The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) Director General Vibha Dhawan, President and CEO of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) Whang Joo-ho, and IEA Chief Energy Economist Tim Gould, among approximately 1,000 global experts. During talks with CF Alliance Chairman Lee Hoe-sung, TERI Director General Vibha Dhawan maintained that Korea should contribute to mitigating the clean energy technology gap between advanced and developing countries through the CFE Initiative and decarbonization based on its leadership in clean energy technology and climate crisis response. In the subsequent panel discussion, experts opined that the CFE Initiative is a public-private cooperative system through which private sectors’ various carbon neutrality needs can be incorporated into the government support programs. They called for the prompt establishment of CFE implementation standards and shared the anticipation that factoring in major industries’ respective characteristics date2024-09-05

Experts share technology and future prospects at Clean Hydrogen International Forum

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) and H2KOREA are launching the Clean Hydrogen International Forum (“Forum”) as a special program on the margins of the World Climate Industry EXPO (2024 WCE) through September 4–5 at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO). Held to take stock of the clean hydrogen industry and discuss future development measures, the Forum is expected to serve as an opportunity for spreading awareness of the need for clean hydrogen and strengthen global cooperation in relevant areas. Roughly 150 hydrogen experts from around the world gathered at the Forum’s opening ceremony, including representatives from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to give keynote speeches on the global trends and future prospects of clean hydrogen. The second day will have global hydrogen firms, including the Norwegian company Nel, and major institutions like the U.S.’ Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA) share clean hydrogen production demonstrations and progress updates on hydrogen projects, followed by a panel discussion.   date2024-09-04