Kim Jeong-gwan, Minister of Industry: "Korea, from AI and Energy Agenda Follower to Agenda Setter"

【Financial News Busan=Reporter Kim Jun-hyuk】 Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeong-gwan evaluated the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Energy Ministers' Meeting and the World Climate Expo (WCE) that opened in Busan since the 27th, saying, "If our role was to follow the agenda set by the international community, this time we have shown our status as an 'agenda setter'."
 Minister Kim stated at a press conference held at Paradise Hotel in Haeundae-gu, Busan on the 28th, "It is significant in that we raised a major issue on artificial intelligence (AI) and energy to the global community."
 The overall theme of the WCE, which opened on the 27th and runs until the 29th, is 'Energy for AI, AI for Energy'. Participating countries, institutions, and companies, including Korea, share energy transition and AI-based energy strategies based on this theme.
 Minister Kim said, "In the AI era, if data centers and computers are the 'head', energy plays the role of the heart that moves that head," adding, "We have raised issues to the global energy community and leaders in this context."
 Minister Kim identified the three key elements of energy required for AI as affordability (Cheap), continuity (Constant), and cleanliness (Clean).
 Regarding the APEC Energy Ministers' Meeting, which opened on the 27th and is scheduled for a plenary session today, he noted, "We discussed energy highways and the electrification of power related to the national agenda of the Korean government," and "We will carry broad consensus in future discussions."
 This year's APEC Energy Ministers' Meeting also includes discussions on Carbon-Free Energy (CFE).
 Minister Kim explained, "We are in discussions on how to specifically develop CFE, and sessions are ongoing," adding, "Last year, the focus was on promoting the CFE initiative and joining it, but now we are discussing how to materialize it with member countries."
 He continued, "(CFE) is an issue linked with RE100 (100% renewable energy goal)," adding, "If RE100 shows the current situation, CFE shows the future content. Now it's being developed with RE100, and next is CFE."
 Meanwhile, Minister Kim, who returned from trade negotiations with the U.S. administration, visited Busan immediately after returning to attend the APEC Energy Ministers' Meeting and WCE Expo. Minister Kim met with Wang Hongzhi, Director of the Chinese Ministry of Energy (ministerial level), to discuss energy policy directions between Korea and China.

jhyuk@fnnews.com Reporter Kim Jun-hyuk