New Report:

Industry Influence on South Korea’s Power Plan is Putting Energy Security and Climate Targets at Risk

• A small group of energy companies is wielding disproportionate policy influence in South Korea through major cross-sector industry associations, hindering the transition to renewable energy.
• The 12th Basic Plan should avoid repeating the 11th Plan’s reliance on nuclear and fossil fuels, and instead set a clear pathway for scaling renewables to strengthen energy security and align with climate goals.
• Leading South Korean demand-side companies, including many with clear climate commitments, were largely absent from shaping the 11th Basic Plan. Their voices must be stronger to support a science-aligned electricity policy and a sustainable, self-sufficient energy future.

New research published today by InfluenceMap finds that South Korea’s 11th Basic Plan (2024 - 2038) is significantly misaligned with the IPCC’s 1.5°C pathways, largely due to the disproportionate influence of a small group of fossil fuel companies in the policymaking process.

With the 12th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand (2026 - 2040), scheduled for release in the second half of this year, InfluenceMap warns that these obstructive influences must be addressed to enable South Korea’s energy system to respond effectively to rising energy price volatility linked to global instability such as the war in Iran and the rapid transition of major partner economies to renewable energy.

The analysis highlights the case for a clear commitment to renewable energy expansion to protect energy security in South Korea and stresses that fossil fuel policy engagement, alongside the hesitant engagement of some major demand-side companies, must not again constrain policy development.

The research points out that the current power mix trajectory of the Basic Plan prioritizes the expansion of nuclear power and the maintenance of a high dependency on fossil fuels, failing to set a clear shift toward a renewables-based system and risking long-term carbon lock-in. Specifically, South Korea has set its renewable energy target at 19% –29% for 2030–2038, which is far below the IPCC’s recommended global average renewable share of 54%, presenting a barrier to the large-scale expansion of renewables mandated by climate science. The Basic Plan also maintains significantly higher shares of coal and LNG compared to IPCC recommendations, with coal alone more than double the recommended global average.

This outcome appears to have been heavily influenced by fossil fuel companies, in particular Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS), Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC), and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). In particular, KEPCO’s dual advocacy for both nuclear and renewable energy creates a "diluted" transition signal, blurring the pathway toward a renewables-led system. There was also high engagement from major industry associations such as the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI).

Although industry associations such as the Korea Photovoltaic Industry Association (KOPIA) and the Korea New and Renewable Energy Association (KNREA) consistently advocated for a transition centered on renewables, their influence is frequently outweighed by the political weight of the fossil fuel sector and major cross-sector industry associations. At the same time, there was limited input from South Korea’s leading IT and manufacturing firms, despite being the country’s largest electricity consumers.

Leading South Korean companies that have publicly committed to RE100 and net zero, including Samsung Electronics, SK Group, and Hyundai Motor Group, notably failed to voice their positions directly during the policymaking process. Instead, analysis shows they engaged indirectly through major industry associations like KCCI and FKI, which prioritize cost and reliability concerns over the rapid scaling of renewable energy.

Full report, graphics, and quotes at this landing page.

For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact:

Kitty Hatchley, Media Manager, InfluenceMap (London)

Email: kitty.hatchley {@} influencemap.org