November 2022:
On 9 November 2022, Prime Minster Han Duck-soo announced new hydrogen economy policy directions aimed at establishing a clean hydrogen supply chain and nurturing a world-leading hydrogen industry. There are three growth strategies ("3UP"):
- "Scale-Up": expand the clean hydrogen ecosystem by establishing a global supply chain and creating large-scale demand in terms of power generation and transportation.
- "Build-Up": establish a legal framework for the distribution infrastructure for accelerating clean hydrogen utilization. This also includes building the world's largest liquid hydrogen plant and fueling station, ammonia and liquid hydrogen receiving terminal and installing a hydrogen pipeline. Plans also include opening a hydrogen bid market, hydrogen business laws and introducing a clean hydrogen certification system.
- "Level Up": technological innovation to become the world-leading hydrogen powerhouse.
To realize the above, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) will be in charge of fostering a clean hydrogen ecosystem. The action plan includes the goal of producing 30,000 hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles by 2030, building 70 liquid hydrogen fueling stations and clean hydrogen being 7.1% of the country's energy mix by 2036. The MOTIE will also develop Korea into a global hydrogen powerhouse by securing advanced technologies, and 10 top-ranked items and nurturing 600 hydrogen-focused companies by 2030.
Source: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
November 2021:
Australia and the Republic of Korea will collaborate as part of a new Zero Emissions Technology Partnership. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea agreed on the partnership during bilateral talks at the G20 summit in Rome, ahead of COP26 in Glasgow. Both jurisdictions will work together to encourage the development, commercialization, and use of low and zero-emission technology, including clean hydrogen, hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, and hydrogen power generation. The Republic of Korea has also agreed to research hydrogen supply chain possibilities between companies from the Republic of Korea and Australia.
Source: Australian Hydrogen News and the Australian Government
October 2020: The Seoul government held a Hydrogen Council meeting in October 2020. During the meeting, five agendas were agreed upon which will introduce Hydrogen Portfolio Standards by 2022. Also discussed was an increase to the government's hydrogen-related budget and amendments to current laws and policies.
Source: Hydrogen Energy Ministerial October 2020
February 2020: Hydrogen Europe and the Hydrogen Convergence Alliance (H2KOREA), the organization representing the public/private hydrogen fuel-cell industry of the Republic of Korea, have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to promote bilateral collaboration for the development of hydrogen energy sectors and improve international hydrogen industry cooperation. This collaboration to promote hydrogen energy will include co-hosting or supporting regular meetings and seminars; exchanging information; promoting coordination among private and public sectors; and developing and promoting policies for the growth of the hydrogen industry.
Source: FCHEA and H2Korea sign MOU
October 2019: The government announced it is planning to build three hydrogen-powered cities by 2022 with a selection of cities to host test areas to be announced by December 2019. Hydrogen will be used in these cities as fuel for cooling, heating, electricity and transportation.
Sources:
Selected three clean and healthy hydrogen pilot cities within the year
South Korea is building 3 hydrogen-powered cities for 2022
S. Korea to build 3 hydrogen-powered cities by 2022
October 2019: The government announced three key strategies to accelerate the development of its car industry into the future and four specific action plans to achieve these goals. The action plans included seeking to become a leading player in the green car industry which had a specific aim to build a total of 660 hydrogen refuelling stations by 2030 and 15,000 electric recharging stations by 2025. Drivers will be able to access a hydrogen station within 20 minutes of any major city or 75 kilometers of any expressway by 2030.
Source: S. Korea unveils three key strategies to develop car industry
January 2019: The government announced its Hydrogen Economy Roadmap and Ulsan's Future Energy Strategy with a primary focus on leading the hydrogen vehicles and fuel cell industry as well as establishing a system for hydrogen production and distribution.