In an op-ed published in the People’s Daily last month, Beijing charged Washington with using the transition to clean energy as a guise to subsidize its key domestic sectors. This assertion caught the attention of South Korean media outlets, given that ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions encompass products like solar panels and rare earth elements vital for battery production.

South Korea hasn’t merely watched from the sidelines in this global contest. The ROK has actively shaped its industrial policies and pursued diplomatic channels to bolster the competitive edge of its energy sector. While some might view Seoul’s maneuvers as an extension of its sustainable development strategy, such an interpretation would be misguided.