Government Establishes New Energy Vice Minister Position in Ministry of Industry... Organizational Restructuring to Address 'Carbon Neutrality'

Approval of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Organization Amendment Proposal at the Cabinet Meeting

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The government is establishing a dedicated Vice Minister for Energy under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and is undertaking organizational restructuring and personnel reinforcement to innovate the energy sector system, which is key to achieving '2050 Carbon Neutrality.'

On the 3rd, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that the 'Partial Amendment Ordinance on the Organization of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Its Affiliated Agencies,' which mainly involves restructuring the energy sector, was approved at the Cabinet meeting and will be implemented from the 9th. This reorganization centers on the establishment of a dedicated Vice Minister for Energy (the 2nd Vice Minister) newly created under the revised Government Organization Act, along with the creation of 2 bureaus, 4 divisions, and the reinforcement of 27 personnel.

Additionally, to effectively implement energy policies aimed at achieving carbon neutrality goals, the 'Energy Resources Office' will be reorganized into the 'Energy Industry Office,' and the temporary organization 'New and Renewable Energy Policy Group' will be restructured into the 'Renewable Energy Policy Officer.' Meanwhile, the 'Resource Industry Policy Officer' and the 'Nuclear Power Industry Policy Officer' will be reorganized into the 'Resource Industry Policy Bureau' and the 'Nuclear Power Industry Policy Bureau,' respectively.

The newly established 'Electric Power Innovation Policy Officer,' under the 2nd Vice Minister, will be responsible for overall innovation tasks in the electric power industry, including preparing a stable power supply mix to respond to the spread of electrification accompanying carbon neutrality, fostering new energy industries, and investing in power grid infrastructure. The 'Hydrogen Economy Policy Officer' will handle the activation of the hydrogen economy across the entire lifecycle of hydrogen production, supply, distribution, and utilization by supporting infrastructure construction, institutional improvements, and investment support to facilitate the transition to a hydrogen economy and lead the global market.

Furthermore, the 'Power Grid Innovation Division' will focus on expanding power grid infrastructure to ensure stable power supply amid the expansion of renewable energy; the 'Renewable Energy Promotion Division' will support the expansion of renewable energy, including large-scale offshore wind projects; the 'Hydrogen Industry Division' will be responsible for clean hydrogen production and supply management, as well as fostering hydrogen-specialized companies. The 'Nuclear Power Regional Cooperation Division' will be in charge of win-win cooperation with nuclear power surrounding areas and the safe operation and management of nuclear power plants.

Moon Seung-wook, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, stated, "Through the establishment of the new Energy Vice Minister position and related organizational and personnel reinforcements, the Ministry will accelerate energy system innovation to achieve 2050 carbon neutrality, actively striving to create new growth engines and jobs in our economy such as renewable energy and hydrogen."

Lee Jae-young, Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said, "This organizational restructuring strengthens the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s energy policy capabilities by reinforcing its organization and personnel. We expect the Ministry to respond proactively and lead the way in carbon neutrality, thereby enhancing national competitiveness."

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