[2026 Inspection] Kim Sung-hwan: "Over 100GW Renewable Energy to Be Achieved Early... Power Grid Bottlenecks to Be Resolved"

Kim Sung-hwan, Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment, announced plans to accelerate the nation's energy transition by achieving more than 100GW (gigawatts) of renewable power installations ahead of schedule by 2030, while also advancing power grid construction and reforming the electricity tariff system. He also revealed an intention to create a greenhouse gas reduction roadmap reflecting the 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and to speed up decarbonization in the industrial, transportation, and heating and cooling sectors.

On October 6, at the National Assembly audit for the Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee, Minister Kim stated, “We will accomplish over 100 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity early by 2030 and realize a harmonious energy mix, supporting a great leap forward into the future like a mega project.”

Kim Sung-hwan, Minister of Climate Energy and Environment, is reporting on his duties at the National Assembly's Climate Energy Environment and Labor Committee inspection held on the 6th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Regarding the expansion of renewable energy, he said, “We will innovate grid regulations and operations to eliminate bottlenecks in renewable energy proliferation, and ensure social acceptance among local communities to enable the rapid build-out of power grids in parallel.” Minister Kim added, “We will pursue advanced power market systems by phasing out coal power generation based on a just transition and integrating power generation companies in alignment with the energy transition.”

On greenhouse gas reduction, he explained that the government will develop a detailed roadmap to implement the 2035 NDC and strengthen reduction incentives in emissions trading schemes. Decarbonization efforts will also target the industrial, heating and cooling, and transportation sectors. Minister Kim said, “Climate action will become embedded in everyday life, encouraging collective solidarity toward carbon neutrality,” and added, “We will offer support to energy-vulnerable groups without blind spots and enhance our climate crisis adaptation capacity.”

He also expressed a determination to connect climate action to industrial competitiveness. “We will make decarbonized energy industries a major export driver and promote both domestic and foreign investment to secure new growth engines for the future,” he said. On the living environment, he stated, “We will strengthen the linkage and flexible management of water resources and diversify supply sources to secure the maximum amount of water resources, while also bolstering our flood response capacity to deal with extreme weather events.”

Other plans include securing resource security through the circulation and recycling of key minerals, reducing plastic use, and improving response to fine dust, high concentrations of ozone, and chemical accidents. Minister Kim said, “We aim to create an environment where people and wildlife coexist, and ensure that ecological assets like national parks are accessible to all,” while emphasizing, “With circular use of key minerals, we will achieve resource security, and from daily life to industry, progress toward a plastic-free society.”

Minister Kim presented the establishment of the 2035 NDC, surpassing one million electric vehicles, renewable energy expansion, and localized power grid innovation as notable achievements of the ministry's first year. He emphasized, “When greenhouse gas reduction, energy transition, and ecological conservation come together, our national response capacity can be maximized. We will support Korea’s leap forward to global leadership with clean and stable electricity and water.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.