Minister Kim Jungkwan: "Energy Is the Heart of the AI Era... The Conditions Are Cheap, Constant, and Clean"

AI and Energy: Presenting the '3C Conditions'
On the Establishment of the Ministry of Climate and Energy: "Refraining from Specific Comments... Maintaining the Link Between Industry, Trade, and Energy"
Also Cautious on the Outcome of the US-Korea Summit

On August 28, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jungkwan emphasized, "If data centers and computers are the brains of the AI era, then the energy that drives them is the heart," adding, "Without securing electricity that is cheap, constant, and clean, the AI era itself is impossible." He went on to say that Korea has now moved beyond being a mere 'follower' of international agendas and has established itself as a 'setter' in the global energy discourse.

APEC and MI Ministerial Meetings Held Simultaneously for the First Time in 20 Years, Korea Emerges as an 'Agenda Setter'

At a press conference during 'Energy Super Week' held in Busan, Minister Kim stated, "This APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting is being held for the first time in 20 years, and the Clean Energy Ministerial and Mission Innovation (MI) Ministerial Meetings are being held for the first time in 10 years." He added, "It is so rare for all three meetings to be held simultaneously that it could be called the first time since the founding of the nation."

He highlighted that, unlike previous meetings that ended as mere formalities, this event was linked with the International Climate Industry Expo. With the ministerial meetings and the exhibition taking place together, ministers from various countries were able to directly connect the agendas discussed with actual corporate technologies on site. Minister Kim remarked, "It was significant in that policy and industry were not separate, but rather interconnected."

The scale and level of interest in the event were also notable. Minister Kim reported, "On the first day, the number of visitors increased by 15 to 20 percent compared to last year," adding, "Despite being a specialized exhibition, there was great interest from both businesses and the general public." He recalled his past experience at Doosan, where he welcomed customers at expos, and commented, "This time, attending as a government minister, I was able to view the same event from a completely different perspective."

AI and Energy: Presenting the '3C Conditions'

The core agenda of this meeting was 'AI for Energy, Energy for AI.' Minister Kim stated, "Until now, Korea has been in a position of following the agendas set by the global community, but this time, we set the agenda ourselves and presented it to the world." He added, "Connecting AI and energy, in particular, has created a significant impact in the international community."

He summarized the energy requirements for the AI era as the '3C conditions.' The first is Cheap electricity. Since 70 to 80 percent of data center operating costs come from electricity, failing to secure inexpensive power means losing competitiveness.

The next is Constant supply. Minister Kim emphasized, "It's not just about preventing power outages; it's essential that the current supplied to data centers maintains a steady flow."

The final requirement is Clean energy. With the spread of AI coinciding with trends in ESG and carbon neutrality, securing eco-friendly power is not an option but a necessity.

Minister Kim added, "AI has great significance in improving the accuracy of wind power forecasts and in the expansion of virtual power plants (VPPs)," and noted, "Korea's energy superhighway and next-generation power grid initiatives have also gained strong support in international discussions."

Regarding the joint declaration of the APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting, he explained, "The main contents include establishing a clean and safe energy supply system, linking AI and energy, and connecting power grids." However, due to the requirement for unanimous agreement, some differences remain with certain member countries, and "consultations will continue until the afternoon."

Ministry of Climate and Energy, US-Korea Summit: Refraining from Comments

Minister Kim took a cautious stance regarding the issue of establishing a 'Ministry of Climate and Energy,' which has recently been discussed in political and government circles. He said, "It is true that various discussions are underway within the government, but as a minister, I would like to refrain from making specific comments."

However, he added, "The energy superhighway, RE100 industrial complexes, and global energy cooperation are tasks that are organically connected to industry, trade, and energy," and stated, "Regardless of the outcome, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will inevitably be deeply involved in these areas." In particular, regarding RE100 industrial complexes, he emphasized, "This is not simply an energy issue, but one that is closely linked to the regional economy and industry, and it is essential to pursue it."

Minister Kim reiterated, "If data centers and computers are the brains of the AI era, then energy is the heart that drives them." He stated, "It is significant that Korea has moved beyond simply following the agendas set by the global community and has now presented its own agenda."

He continued, "The 3C conditions of cheap, constant, and clean energy are the core of energy in the AI era," and added, "As the solutions proposed by Korea have resonated with the international community, we will continue to strengthen our global leadership through the organic connection of industry, trade, and energy."

He was extremely cautious about commenting on the outcome of the US-Korea summit. He said, "I will provide a separate opportunity to explain matters related to negotiations with the United States at an appropriate time," and noted, "If the details of the negotiations are released, all other messages may be overshadowed," demonstrating a prudent attitude.

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