The Iran war is “serving as a significant turning point” for South Korea to shift to renewable energy and away from oil, the country’s energy minister said.
In an interview with CNBC’s Lisa Kim, South Korea’s Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment Kim Sung-hwan said there is a “growing national consensus that we must undergo a fundamental energy transition.“
Seoul has committed to achieving 100 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030. Currently, South Korea’s total renewable energy capacity stands at 37 gigawatts, according to the Renewable Energy Institute.
Kim said that the country will focus on wind and solar power to achieve its goal of increased capacity.
South Korea derived only about 9% of its power needs from renewables in 2025, mostly from solar, according to IEA data.
