[Reporter’s Notebook] The Role of the First Energy Vice Minister in the Moon Administration

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] With the passage of the amendment to the Government Organization Act through the National Assembly, a dedicated Vice Minister position for energy will be newly established in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in early August. Since President Moon Jae-in's term ends in May next year, and the Government Organization Act is subject to revision whenever the administration changes, there is doubt whether the energy Vice Minister position can have permanence.

The official reason for creating the energy Vice Minister position is the necessity to prepare a century-long energy plan for the nation's future, including the hydrogen economy, while continuously promoting energy transition policies. However, it cannot be denied that the position strongly serves as a reward for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s efforts in spearheading the current administration’s energy policy, which is summarized as 'nuclear phase-out.' In effect, it is about wrapping up the Moon administration’s energy policy.

President Moon is pushing for rapid carbon neutrality until the end of his term, including raising the national greenhouse gas reduction target (NDC). He has voluntarily joined the league led by Europe, emphasizing responsibility as a member of the international community in carbon neutrality. However, there was no consideration for the industrial sector in the process. Given that our economy is based on manufacturing, carbon neutrality is essentially a challenge for the industry, but the reality of companies was thoroughly ignored. The Carbon Neutrality Committee, the cross-ministerial control tower for carbon neutrality policy, was also filled with environmentally friendly figures from academia and civic groups who are disconnected from reality.

This is why the role of the inaugural energy Vice Minister is important. If the position simply follows the administration-level nuclear phase-out, coal phase-out, and carbon neutrality policies, the likelihood of facing political backlash increases. In a situation where the current government’s energy policy is already embroiled in political controversy, if the position cannot maintain balance, its fate is uncertain.

The energy Vice Minister must incorporate both industrial and energy realities into carbon neutrality policies. Paradoxically, the energy Vice Minister position, which is essentially a political product, may become the last bastion to prevent the current administration’s one-sided carbon neutrality approach. Whoever takes on this role, it is clear that it will be a difficult position.

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