Kim Jeong-gwan, Minister of Industry: "Strengthening the Renewable Energy Ecosystem... Nuclear Power to be Promoted Without Disruption Based on Safety and Acceptability"

[Financial News] Kim Jeong-gwan, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, mentioned the policy of eco-friendly energy transition as a major task in his inaugural speech on the 21st. At the same time, regarding nuclear power, he suggested promoting the 'energy mix' policy, saying, "Let's proceed without disruption based on safety and acceptability." In addition, Minister Kim ordered the discovery and promotion of practical industrial policies that companies can feel, and measures to induce regional investment performance of companies, while emphasizing 'transition'.
Minister Kim stated at the inauguration ceremony held at the Government Complex Sejong on this day, "In the era of great industrial transformation, the survival of companies and industries depends on whether they can stably secure cheap and clean quality energy."
Minister Kim said, "In the era of renewable energy and electricity utilizing our sun and wind, the stability of energy facilities and power supply is the core of energy security," and added, "Let's improve markets, infrastructure, regulations, etc., and actively expand renewable energy to enhance climate change response and energy independence capabilities, and strengthen the domestic industrial ecosystem through domestic production of renewable energy facilities, technology development, and demonstration."
The blueprint for securing energy security centered on eco-friendliness and realizing carbon neutrality mentioned by Minister Kim aligns with the energy policy stance of the Lee Jae-myung government. The Lee Jae-myung government aims for an 'energy mix' policy harmonizing nuclear power and renewable energy and gradually pursuing renewable energy transition with a 'reduction of nuclear power' stance.
Regarding nuclear power, Minister Kim pointed out, "As the importance of energy price stability, achieving carbon neutrality, and global exports in terms of industry is increasing, let's proceed without disruption based on safety and acceptability."
He further encouraged, "In response to rapidly changing power demand and supply conditions, let's expand power infrastructure such as energy highways and also rapidly innovate the power system," and "Let's establish an energy price system that supports the stability of people's lives and industrial competitiveness, and provide more substantial and detailed support for energy welfare."
In addition, Minister Kim emphasized the agenda of 'transition' while ordering the discovery of practical industrial policies and measures to induce regional investment performance of companies.
Minister Kim ordered, "In a situation where the global competitive system is rapidly changing due to the AI revolution and energy revolution, we must cultivate the capabilities that our companies can lead," and "In industries with structural oversupply such as petrochemicals and steel, let's prepare for a rebound by preemptively restructuring businesses and transitioning to high-value products without missing the opportunity."
As a measure to revive the regional economy, Minister Kim said, "Let's foster ultra-wide area industries centered on five poles and three special zones, create RE100 industrial complexes, and create regional investment performance of companies through bold regulatory innovation and incentives," and "Let's mobilize all policy means available to the government to expand settlement conditions such as education, medical care, and culture, and create practical changes where companies and young people gather in the region."

jhyuk@fnnews.com Kim Jun-hyeok Reporter