[Reporter’s Notebook] Who Is Korea’s Head of Energy Security?

An Energy Security System Focused on Supply and Demand
Rethinking from the Perspective of Energy Self-Sufficiency

Among government ministries in Korea, the only one with "energy" in its name is the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (Ministry of Climate). However, when the recent energy supply crisis broke out due to the war between the United States and Iran, it was not Minister Kim Sunghwan of the Ministry of Climate who took the lead, but rather Kim Jeonggwan, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy (Ministry of Industry).

Minister Kim Jeonggwan has been in the media spotlight, visiting gas stations daily and checking oil prices. Minister Kim Sunghwan, on the other hand, has been monitoring the electricity supply situation together with energy public enterprises.

It was also Minister Kim Jeonggwan who attended the "Asia-Pacific Energy Security Ministers’ Meeting and Business Forum" held in Tokyo, Japan, from March 14 to 15. At this meeting, a joint declaration was adopted that covered a wide range of issues, including strengthening regional energy security, expanding access, exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG), and introducing small modular reactors (SMRs).

At this point, it is clear that, in Korea, the "head of energy security" is not the Minister of Climate but the Minister of Industry. Although the Ministry of Climate has a second vice minister in charge of energy, it appears that, externally, the Ministry of Industry is recognized as the ministry representing Korea's energy security.

The Ministry of Climate does not bother to deny this fact. They acknowledge that "tasks related to energy supply and imports/exports fall under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Industry," so there is no other choice. At the same time, they emphasize that "in an energy crisis, all ministries are working in perfect coordination under the direction of the President."

The root cause of this situation lies in last year's government reorganization, when the Ministry of Climate was established. At that time, the work related to the export of oil, gas, coal, and nuclear power plants remained with the Ministry of Industry, while only electricity, hydrogen, and heat-related work was transferred to the Ministry of Climate.

Given that Korea's dependence on imported energy such as oil and gas reaches 94%, it is only natural that the Ministry of Industry takes charge of energy security. The Ministry of Industry has a director-level organization responsible for resource security. In contrast, within the Ministry of Climate, two departments under the second vice minister — the Climate Energy Policy Office and the Energy Transition Policy Office — are responsible for energy work.

However, if energy security is viewed from the perspective of "self-sufficiency" rather than "supply and demand," the discussion may change.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates Korea's energy self-sufficiency rate at 19%, including renewables and nuclear power. If this ratio increases, Korea could be less vulnerable to external energy crises.

Ultimately, energy security and energy self-sufficiency are one and the same issue. Currently, the ministry overseeing energy self-sufficiency is the Ministry of Climate.

The United Kingdom, recognizing the growing importance of energy security following the Russia-Ukraine war, launched the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) in 2023. This, too, reflects the view that energy security and carbon neutrality are one and the same issue. Korea, having experienced this latest energy crisis, should also consider energy security from a new perspective.

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