US and South Korea Energy Ministers Agree to Strengthen Cooperation by Elevating Existing Director-General Level 'Energy Policy Dialogue' to Ministerial Level

Sung Yun-mo, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy. (File photo)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The governments of South Korea and the United States have agreed to expand energy cooperation by upgrading the 'Korea-US Energy Policy Dialogue,' a director-general level cooperation channel, to the ministerial level.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that Minister Sung Yun-mo held a virtual 'Korea-US Energy Ministerial Meeting' with Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Secretary of Energy, on the 12th at the Government Complex Sejong to discuss this matter.

An official from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy explained, "The two countries agreed on the need for continuous cooperation, sharing mutually beneficial outcomes in the energy sector such as trade and investment expansion, and recognizing that the Korea-US policy direction is aligned in fostering eco-friendly and low-carbon new energy industries. They discussed and reached a consensus on upgrading the energy policy cooperation channel and strengthening technological cooperation in the clean energy sector to expand energy cooperation between Korea and the U.S."

Furthermore, both countries agreed to mutually strive for the successful hosting of the U.S.-led Climate Leaders Summit in April and the P4G (Partnership for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030) Summit, which the Korean government is preparing for in May.

At the meeting, Minister Sung stated, "The declaration of the 2050 carbon neutrality goal by Korea and the U.S. aligns the policy objectives and directions of both countries, promoting active investment in eco-friendly and low-carbon sectors, technological innovation, fostering new industries, and creating quality jobs. Energy cooperation between the two countries is expanding beyond traditional fields such as oil and gas to eco-friendly energy sectors including electric vehicle batteries, solar power, and hydrogen, and there is a need to accelerate this further." In response, Secretary Granholm said, "I agree that efforts to address climate change require close global cooperation beyond any single country."

In particular, the two ministers agreed to mutually work to expand cooperation between the governments and companies of both countries in related fields, using the amicable resolution of the secondary battery dispute between LG Energy Solution and SK Innovation as an opportunity.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy plans to discuss specific cooperation measures through bilateral cooperation channels to translate the outcomes of this meeting into tangible results.

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