Han Hwajin: "Nuclear Power Also Classified as Green... Appropriately Balancing the Share of Renewable Energy"

Environment and Labor Committee Confirmation Hearing

Han Hwa-jin, nominee for Minister of Environment, is attending the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 2nd, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Han Hwajin, the nominee for Minister of Environment, stated on the 2nd that nuclear power is "classified as a green carbon source in relation to greenhouse gas emissions."

At the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee confirmation hearing that day, Han said, "Regarding the nuclear power issue, it is classified as a green carbon source in relation to greenhouse gas emissions, and the safety of nuclear power plant operations is considered very important."

In response to independent lawmaker Yoon Mihyang's question about the low proportion of renewable energy, Han said, "I agree with the direction that renewable energy should be expanded in the long term, but the proportions of nuclear power and renewable energy should be properly balanced," adding, "However, the safety of nuclear power must be a prerequisite."

Earlier, the Presidential Transition Committee announced that it would include nuclear power in the 'green taxonomy,' which is the standard for classifying which industries are eco-friendly.

In response to People Power Party lawmaker Park Daesu's question about the lack of public consensus when raising the NDC last year (40% reduction compared to 2018 emissions), Han replied, "I understand that discussions were insufficient with the industry and stakeholders as the discussions were conducted in a compressed manner."

He further explained, "While the 40% reduction compared to 2018 emissions is clearly a very challenging goal, it is necessary to comply with the international commitments and devise wise measures for implementation."

Han, who is a former researcher, addressed concerns about his organizational management skills by saying, "The capabilities of the Ministry of Environment staff are high, and I am trying to maximize their abilities through communication with the employees."

Earlier, President-elect Yoon Seokyeol nominated Han, an honorary research fellow at the Korea Environment Institute, as the first Minister of Environment candidate. Han was born in 1959 in Daejeon, graduated with a bachelor's and master's degree in Chemistry from Korea University, and earned a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) graduate school.

Han is an expert in the environmental field who worked as a senior research fellow at the Korea Environment Institute from 1993 to 2019. From 2009 to 2010, during the Lee Myung-bak administration, he served as the environmental secretary in the Presidential Office's Social Policy Secretary's Office. He later served as vice president of the Korea Environment Institute, a member of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, and since 2018, he has been a member of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance's Emissions Trading Allocation Committee. Since 2020, he has been an honorary research fellow at the Korea Environment Institute. He has conducted environmental policy research for about 30 years.

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