With ASEAN, South Korea Will Expand Its Energy Partnership

According to Lee Won-ju, Director-General of Energy Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE), South Korea intends to maintain its cooperation with ASEAN nations, which will be essential in guaranteeing energy security and expanding sustainable energy.

At the 19th ASEAN+3 Energy Ministers’ Meeting, Lee stated that the improvement of green power development, data interchange, project inquiry and sourcing, and offering assistance to Korean enterprises’ entry into the local market will be the main areas of South Korea’s cooperation with ASEAN.

According to Lee, South Korea has committed to ASEAN’s decarbonization and power infrastructure safety management through the nation’s greenhouse gas reduction programmes and energy safety management. MOTIE said in a statement that since 2009, South Korea has been working on policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and has been spreading its knowledge of renewable energy and energy efficiency with the ASEAN nations. Additionally, it has been working with the area since 2021 to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by improving energy efficiency in industry and transportation.

In order to encourage technological developments and close collaboration for the expansion of renewable energy in the area, South Korea has also served as co-chair for Alternative and Renewable Power Generation with Brunei since 2018. The ASEAN region’s energy infrastructure safety management would be improved by the dissemination of electricity safety standards and employee training consultations, according to MOTIE.

Lee also emphasised the urgent need for the stabilisation of the world energy market and the bolstering of energy security at the 16th East Asia Summit. In addition, he agreed that clean energy expansion was essential to decarbonize markets, pointing to South Korea’s energy strategy in this regard. In order to strengthen energy security and attain carbon neutrality, he continued, nuclear energy will be a key source. The development of clean energy, hydrogen, and renewable technologies will continue to satisfy domestic energy needs and situations.