These updates capture the most important items of evidence collected by the LobbyMap platform, allowing users to track how companies are industry associations are seeking to influence climate policy in real-time.
In a 5 August SK Innovation Newsroom article, SK Innovation supported a continued role for oil and fossil gas in South Korea, emphasizing energy security benefits. However, SK Innovation did not place clear conditions on the need for CCS or methane emission abatement on the use of oil and gas, or specify clear timelines for energy transition that are in line with IPCC guidance. In addition, in a 6 August SK Innovation Newsroom article, SK Earthon, a subsidiary of SK Innovation, advocated for investments, infrastructure, or other measures that risk fossil fuel lock-in, also emphasizing lacking of domestic oil resources and energy security in South Korea.
In a 22 August press release, SK Inc. supported the use of advanced nuclear technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and announced that it had requested the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to introduce incentives to encourage private sector participation. SK Inc. stated that these measures were necessary to secure South Korea’s leadership in the growing global SMR market. While SK Inc. highlighted the potential of SMRs to contribute to carbon reduction and energy security, it did not clarify its position on South Korea’s broader energy mix.
In a 28 July POSCO Newsroom article, POSCO Research Institute (POSRI) supported the decarbonization of the steel industry, stressing its economic and technological feasibility. The company highlighted the need for increased policy measures, including green premiums, as well as investment and government funding in research and development (R&D) to increase the development of breakthrough technologies for decarbonization. In the same article, POSCO Research Institute (POSRI) broadly supported a phaseout of blast furnace steelmaking and the use of coal, while advocating a continued role for fossil gas for the transition period without placing clear conditions on the deployment of CCS or methane abatement measures. POSRI supported an energy transition pathway that includes an increase in renewables and nuclear, but there is some ambiguity regarding the pace and extent of this transition and its alignment with IPCC recommendations.
According to 2 July National Assembly Policy Data, POSCO broadly supported an increase in green hydrogen and zero-emissions hydrogen, especially produced from nuclear power, for direct reduced iron (DRI) steelmaking to decarbonize the steel industry at a Policy Discussion on Hydrogen Reduction Steelmaking and Nuclear Power Plant Utilization for Carbon Reduction.
In a 22 July POSCO Newsroom article, POSCO Research Institute (POSRI) generally supported the electrification of transport and buildings while communicating the need to increase the share of renewable energy. POSRI mentioned electrification as an 'essential element for achieving greenhouse gas reduction targets'.
In a 15 July press release from the 'Solar Energy Sector’s Public-Private Consultative Body Meeting' held by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF), Korea Photovoltaic Industry Association (KOPIA) called for policy to support the recycling of used solar panel by establishing a domestic resource circulation system.
In a 7 July eNews Today article, POSCO Holdings supported a long-term role for nuclear power in the energy mix and called for revising Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to include nuclear power, but POSCO's position on a full transition towards a zero-emission energy system was unclear. In a 3 August Yeongnam Economic News article, POSCO Holdings supported an expanded role for zero-emissions hydrogen, especially hydrogen produced from nuclear, in the steel industry, but it was unclear if the company supported a full transition in line with IPCC recommendations.
In a 28 July POSCO Newsroom article, POSCO Research Institute (POSRI) appeared to support a weaker 2035 GHG Emissions Reduction Target (Nationally Determined Contribution) in South Korea. POSRI called for establishing 'feasible and reasonable' 2035 NDC target that reflects both realistic implementation capabilities and a vision for a future decarbonization transition.
In a 16 July press release, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) appeared to support renewable energy legislation and submitted a proposal to revise renewable energy legislations for the energy transition to the government. This proposal included improvements to the Farmland Act and easing the solar panel separation distance regulation. However, in a 1 July press release at an SGI Sustainable Growth Forum, KCCI supported renewable energy in principle, but appeared to argue that the transition should occur without government intervention or regulatory support. KCCI emphasized harmonizing industrial policy with innovation and market principles, while quoting the State Affairs Planning Committee "support but do not interfere."
In a 23 July Business Community Proposal for Establishing Carbon Neutrality and Sustainability Policies, the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) supported expanding government measures to decarbonize South Korea’s heavy-duty vehicle sector. FKI proposed expanding subsidies and charging infrastructure to promote the replacement of aging construction equipment with electric alternatives, and called for government support for mobile hydrogen refueling stations to accelerate hydrogen mobility adoption. FKI also supported government incentives to reduce emissions in South Korea’s steel industry. However, it was unclear whether FKI supported a full transition of the steel sector in line with IPCC recommendations.
In the same proposal, FKI supported measures to limit the negative biodiversity impacts of large-scale solar installations and emphasized the need for government intervention to expand solar and wind energy in South Korea’s energy mix. FKI noted that the country’s fossil fuel–reliant grid results in a high national average emission factor, placing domestic companies at a disadvantage under global carbon regulations. The proposal called for a full-system transition—across generation, transmission, and consumption—through measures such as expanding solar and wind power, decommissioning old coal plants, refurbishing nuclear facilities, hydrogen co-firing, and deploying electric boilers, heat pumps, EV charging management, and on-site generation.
In a 4 August press release, Korea Iron and Steel Association (KOSA) welcomed a 'Special Act on Strengthening the Competitiveness of the Steel Industry and Transitioning to Green Steel Technology', which was proposed by co-representatives of the National Assembly Steel Forum. This Special Act includes investment and government funding in research and development (R&D) to increase the development of breakthrough technologies to decarbonize the steel industry. KOSA expressed its expectations around the policy "strengthening the competitiveness of the steel industry and establishing a sustainable industrial foundation".
In a 28 July press release, Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) appeared to support improving renewable portfolio standards in South Korea, while emphasizing difficulties coming from high renewable energy prices. According to a 20 July Chosun Biz article, at a Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Summer Forum press conference, the Chairman of KCCI, Chey Tae-won also stated concerns over the economic feasibility of renewable energy, while supporting a longer role for nuclear in the energy mix, but seemingly as an alternative to a transition to renewable energy.
In a 3 July SK Innovation Newsroom article, SK Energy, a subsidiary of SK Innovation, supported the increased use of SAF in aviation, referring to SAF as an alternative to fossil fuels to reduce carbon emissions. However, it was unclear whether the entity is supports a future transition to synthetic fuels and electric or hydrogen power, in alignment with IPCC guidelines.
In a 21 July Contribution in K-Land Daily article, the Vice-Chairman of the Korea Photovoltaic Industry Association (KOPIA) actively supporting renewable energy legislation, including mandatory use of domestically produced solar power products and carbon rating policy. He also called for groundbreaking policy support from the Korean government for the renewable energy industry, especially solar energy industry.
In a 21 July Contribution in K-Land Daily article, Vice President of the Korea New and Renewable Energy Association (KNREA) actively supported renewable energy legislation to accelerate the implementation of RE100, a global corporate renewable energy initiative toward the use of 100% renewable electricity. He stated his support for integrated and consistent energy policies through the establishment of the Ministry of Climate Energy.
According to its 15 July press release, Korea Photovoltaic Industry Association (KOPIA) actively supported renewable energy legislation at the ‘2025 14th Solar Energy Sector’s Public-Private Consultative Body Meeting’ held by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF)’s New Growth Promotion Team. KOPIA called for various policy reforms, including expanding direct power purchase agreement (PPA), easing solar power separation distance regulation and solar power installation mandate in industrial complexes, to improve competitiveness of the solar energy industry.
In a 5 June press release, the POSCO Research Institute (POSRI) called for a reasonable 2035 national greenhouse gas reduction target (NDC), emphasizing challenges of maintaining the competitiveness of the steel industry while achieving the national NDC target. POSRI also mentioned that the government needs to provide more detailed and comprehensive support from the perspective of ‘steel = security'.
In a 16 June interview with Steel & Metal News, the Korea Iron and Steel Association (KOSA) supported government funding in research and development (R&D) to increase development of breakthrough technologies to decarbonize the steel industry, such as hydrogen reduction steelmaking. KOSA stated that responding to the transition to carbon neutrality is a key task that is directly related to the survival of the steel industry.
In a 5 June Industry Report from the POSCO Newsroom, the POSCO Research Institute (POSRI) appeared unsupportive of the Korea Emissions Trading Scheme (K-ETS), calling to maintain 100% free allowances for the steel industry while emphasizing the cost competitiveness of the steel industry and related industries. POSRI also stated that decarbonization policies should be approached from the perspective of securing new economic growth engines and industrial competitiveness rather than regulation.
In an 11 July Energy Daily article, the CEO of the Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS), Choi Yeon-hye, supported a continued role for fossil gas in the power sector, emphasizing energy security and increased electricity demand due to the expansion of AI use, but unaccompanied by timelines for the phase out of gas that are aligned with IPCC guidelines.
This briefing analyzes the corporate and industry influence on the Korea Emissions Trading Scheme (K-ETS) over the 15-year timeframe, led by the cross-sector industry associations and steel industry to weaken the ambition and effectiveness of the policy.
This bulletin offers insights on the climate policy engagement of major steel companies and their industry associations from the first half of 2024.
This briefing highlights evidence of corporate engagement by the Japanese and Korean steel industries to weaken the ambition of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (EU CBAM).
This report contains analysis and scorecards of the climate policy engagement of the largest steelmakers in China, India, Japan and Korea.
An overview of the corporate lobbying detected by InfluenceMap related to fossil fuels and methane for the month of June 2023.
This briefing provides an analysis of the climate-related policy engagement of the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA), which includes Hyundai Motor, KIA, General Motors Korea (GM Korea), and Renault Korea Motors in its corporate members. KAMA acts as the collective voice of automakers...
