Kim Seong-hwan, the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment, visited several corporate sites to assess the progress of eco-friendly policies aimed at decarbonizing the building sector and promoting a circular economy.
The ministry reported that on July 22, Minister Kim visited Samsung C&T's Residential Performance Research Institute, Samsung Electronics' Suwon facility, and the Yongin Metropolitan Resource Recycling Center to examine the status of heat pump deployment, reusable container usage, and the recycling of discarded electronics.
As carbon neutrality policies expand beyond greenhouse gas reduction to include industrial competitiveness, heat pumps and the recycling of critical minerals are seen as key areas that can address both energy transition and supply chain stability. In particular, the commercialization of recycling technologies for discarded electronics is expected to positively impact resource acquisition and raw material supply stability, especially given the high dependence on foreign sources for rare earth elements.
During his visit to Samsung C&T's Residential Performance Research Institute, Minister Kim observed a demonstration of an integrated heat pump system that provides heating, cooling, and hot water from a single unit. Heat pumps are high-efficiency systems that utilize heat from the outside air, representing a significant electrification technology that can reduce fossil fuel use in buildings.
The government confirmed the feasibility of applying this technology in multi-family housing, as well as the installation environment, electrical conditions, and regulatory challenges, with plans to gradually establish a foundation for heat pump deployment focused on multi-family residences.
At Samsung Electronics' Suwon facility, Minister Kim checked the reusable container system in operation at all cafes and cafeterias. Samsung Electronics is expanding the use of reusable containers from the Suwon facility to 13 sites, including Samsung SDI and Samsung Display, while the government is considering institutional support to promote similar initiatives across various public facilities.
Later, Minister Kim visited the Yongin Metropolitan Resource Recycling Center, where he observed the disassembly process for discarded refrigerators and air conditioners, as well as the refrigerant treatment procedures. He also inspected the recovery of permanent magnets containing copper, aluminum, and rare earth elements, and evaluated the potential for commercializing critical mineral recycling technologies through a pilot project being conducted by LG Electronics and the Circular Governance.
The government plans to improve the standards for the recovery and recycling of rare earth permanent magnets based on the pilot results, aiming to establish a domestic circular utilization system for critical minerals.
Minister Kim stated, "The transition to heat pumps in industries and buildings, the practice of reducing plastic in daily life, and the recycling of critical minerals from discarded electrical and electronic products are central to promoting carbon neutrality and a circular economy. We will continue to provide policy support to ensure that these leading models spread throughout the industry, enhancing our companies' global green competitiveness."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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