[The Editors' Verdict] Does the Nature of Elements Change When the Administration Changes?

Hydrogen is the Future Energy Source
Must be Developed for National Economy

"The autumn sky of Korea is clear and high..."

When I was young, I read in a book that the autumn sky in Korea is clear, clean, and the most beautiful in the world. I remember it from a textbook. Even the national anthem praises the Korean sky: "The autumn sky is clear and high, without clouds, the bright moon reflects our unwavering hearts." There was pride in the Korean sky. However, after spending a year as a correspondent in Silicon Valley, USA, my belief in the Korean sky was shaken. In Silicon Valley, clouds and rain appear only in winter. In spring, summer, and autumn, the sky is clear and clean. At first, I said the sky there always looked like the Korean autumn sky.

But gradually, the belief that the Korean autumn sky is the best in the world began to waver. For one, the frequency of washing clothes decreased. In Korea, after just a few days, even a day, black streaks appear on clothes and around the neck. But in Silicon Valley, even after several days, no dirt appeared. When I asked, they said it was because there was no dust. They told me to think about the place name. Silicon Valley got its name because many semiconductor companies are located there. The reason is that the air is clean. When making semiconductors, even a single speck of dust causes defects. The moon and the stars also looked different. The moon appeared much larger than I had seen in Korea. At first, jokingly, I said that in America, even the trees, people, and the moon are bigger. Upon reflection, the clear sky made the moon look bigger. I realized I had been living trapped in the idea of the Korean Peninsula as a beautiful land without resources. Still, I laughed it off, thinking, "Because of the distinct four seasons, it is a place that grows dearer the more you see it."

However, recently, the situation has changed. The distinct four seasons have become a problem. The concepts of so-called carbon neutrality and renewable energy have emerged and are turning into trade barriers. Developed countries that have operated factories for hundreds of years by burning fossil fuels and emitting carbon dioxide now demand that factories run only on so-called renewable energy without carbon emissions. Simply put, they say to generate and use electricity from solar power and other sources that do not emit carbon and will never run out. California, where Silicon Valley is located, is more than four times the size of South Korea. Moreover, it hardly ever rains. In other words, there are almost no cloudy days. Nearby Nevada is the same. Generating power from the sun there is inevitably more efficient than in Korea. Also, Korea has many mountains. Even on clear days, the mountains block the sun, reducing the time available for power generation. The rainy summer, the short winter days, the distinct four seasons, and the beautiful mountainous landscape with low hills here and there all hold back the Korean economy. The share of renewable energy in Korea's power production is 8.1% (as of January, Korea Electric Power Corporation). The campaign to use 100% renewable energy is called RE100 (Renewable Electricity 100). If products not made with 100% renewable energy cannot be exported, the Korean economy will not survive.

Therefore, the government is promoting CF100 (Carbon Free 100) as an alternative. On the 17th, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will hold the launch ceremony of the "Carbon-Free Energy Policy Forum" at the Press Center with the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It is a forum to discuss CF100. CF100 considers not only renewable energy but also nuclear power and hydrogen as clean energy sources that do not emit carbon. This is advantageous for Korea, a nuclear power country. However, although CF100 is not impossible, it is difficult to realize. Korea was once called a hydrogen powerhouse in the world. Hydrogen technology must also be actively developed. However, the current administration is evaluated as passive regarding hydrogen. The reason is said to be that it was a key project promoted by the previous administration. Changing the president does not change the nature of elements. Whether in President Yoon Suk-yeol's era or former President Moon Jae-in's time, the nature of hydrogen as an element does not change. The fact that hydrogen is a future energy source that can revive the national economy remains unchanged.

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