Korean Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment Kim Sung-hwan announced plans to incorporate a strategy for transitioning to an 'Electric Nation' in the 12th Power Supply Basic Plan. This strategy aims to address the surging electricity demand by prioritizing electricity as a national strategic asset while utilizing nuclear power alongside renewable energy sources.
During the Fourth Public Policy Forum on the 12th Power Supply Basic Plan held on the morning of August 20 at the National Assembly, Kim emphasized, "Electricity should not just be seen as an auxiliary means for industry but as a national strategic asset that ensures security."
He noted that while semiconductor and AI data centers can be established relatively quickly, preparing the necessary power supply infrastructure takes significantly longer. "While setting up chips or AI data centers can be done in 2 to 3 years if one is determined, preparing for electricity takes much longer," he said.
Kim stated that the process of establishing the 12th Power Supply Basic Plan must consider both the climate crisis and the increasing power demand driven by AI. He pointed out that the rapid rise in electricity demand has been observed since the emergence of ChatGPT, necessitating a continuation of decarbonization policies that reduce reliance on coal, gas power, internal combustion vehicles, and gas heating.
"We are facing both a climate crisis and an AI revolution simultaneously," Kim remarked, stressing the importance of addressing the explosive growth in electricity demand that was unimaginable in the past.
To secure leadership in the AI era, he emphasized the need to leverage South Korea's strengths in both the semiconductor and power industries. He stated, "The U.S. has chips but lacks power, while China has power but lacks chips. How South Korea navigates this situation will determine whether it becomes a central nation of a new civilization or regresses to the past."
Kim proposed a focus on renewable energy as the primary power source while also utilizing nuclear energy. The goal is to create a society powered by clean energy that operates AI data centers and AI robots, replacing coal and oil.
He concluded, "We must operate AI data centers and AI robots using clean energy sources that mix renewable energy with some nuclear power, and I will ensure these elements are thoroughly included in the 12th Power Supply Basic Plan."
Meanwhile, the Fourth Public Policy Forum on the 12th Power Supply Basic Plan is being held under the themes of 'Transition Strategy to an Electric Nation' and 'Future Energy Policy Directions.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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