Hanwha-jin, Minister of Environment, "Final Draft of Nuclear Power 'K-Taxonomy' Announcement in September Uncertain"

National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee Work Report
"Expert Consultation Considering Technology Level"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Han Hwajin, Minister of Environment, stated on the 4th that the final announcement of the Korean Green Taxonomy (K-Taxonomy), including nuclear power generation, may be delayed.

On the morning of the 4th, during a briefing at the Environment and Labor Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Minister Han responded to a question from Yoon Geonyeong, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, asking about the possibility of postponing the September announcement during the presidential office briefing on K-Taxonomy, saying, "We have not promised a September announcement, and there is flexibility."

He added, "The year applied by the European Union (EU) may change according to Korea's technological level."

Earlier, the Ministry of Environment announced at the presidential briefing on the 18th of last month that it planned to finalize the K-Taxonomy, including nuclear power, by next month.

The European Union has established criteria to include nuclear power in the green taxonomy on the condition that accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) development and application are completed by 2025, and a high-level radioactive waste disposal facility operation plan is prepared by 2050. Our government is targeting 2029 for ATF and 2060 for the disposal facility, considering technological development and realistic conditions.

Minister Han said, "There is definitely a technological gap. We will set the years after consulting with experts and related ministries, considering Korea's technological level."

In his opening remarks at the briefing, Minister Han emphasized, "We will achieve the national greenhouse gas reduction target by utilizing the emission surplus secured through nuclear power and renewable energy," and "We will comply with the 2030 national greenhouse gas reduction target promised to the international community, and carefully design sectoral reduction targets to ensure its realization."

He also stated, "We will pursue scientific and feasible carbon neutrality," and "To respond to trade barriers such as carbon border taxes, we will advance the greenhouse gas emissions trading system and support reduction activities so that our companies can proactively improve their structure."

Regarding air pollution issues, a goal has been set to raise the current OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) lowest rank level of fine dust to the mid-level. Minister Han explained, "To reduce fine dust concentration by 30%, we will prepare scientific reduction measures by sector such as industry and transportation and implement support measures to minimize the burden," and "We will extend the seasonal management period to prepare for high-concentration fine dust situations and advance forecasts by two days to prevent health damage to the public."

Regarding water supply, he stated, "We will manage tap water quality in real time using information and communication technology (ICT), and proceed smoothly with diversifying water intake sources in the Nakdong River basin to supply clean water abundantly."

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