South Korea aims for 100GW of renewable energy by 2030

South Korean Climate, Energy and Environment Minister Kim Seong-hwan announced plans during a National Assembly audit to achieve more than 100GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. The minister emphasized that overcoming the climate crisis is both a matter of survival and a driver for new economic growth.

To support this goal, the ministry intends to innovate power grid systems and operations to remove bottlenecks in renewable energy expansion. Key policy initiatives include the phase-out of coal-fired power plants based on a ‘just transition’ framework, the integration of power generation companies to match the energy transition, and the establishment of a 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) roadmap.

Additionally, the minister outlined strategies for water management to enhance flood response capabilities and diversify water sources. Other priorities include strengthening the emissions trading scheme, promoting the decarbonized energy industry as a major export sector, and transitioning toward a ‘plastic-free’ society across industrial and daily life sectors.