{"id":2202056,"date":"2023-08-22T18:41:40","date_gmt":"2023-08-22T09:41:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2202056"},"modified":"2023-08-23T17:47:19","modified_gmt":"2023-08-23T08:47:19","slug":"south-koreas-green-energy-dilemma-balancing-economic-and-sustainability-aims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/08\/south-koreas-green-energy-dilemma-balancing-economic-and-sustainability-aims\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea\u2019s green energy dilemma: Balancing economic and sustainability aims"},"content":{"rendered":"
In an <\/span>op-ed<\/span><\/a> published in the People\u2019s 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 <\/span>South Korean media outlets<\/span><\/a>, given that ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions encompass products like <\/span>solar panels<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>rare earth elements<\/span><\/a> vital for battery production.<\/span><\/p>\n South Korea hasn\u2019t 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\u2019s maneuvers as an extension of its sustainable development strategy, such an interpretation would be misguided.<\/span><\/p>\n Using sustainable development to tackle challenges such as supply chain security might attract political support and funding. However, it will likely divert crucial resources from legitimate efforts to further the ROK\u2019s sustainability goals.<\/span><\/p>\n Conflating economic interests with sustainable development objectives risks weakening the latter\u2019s impact. After all, sustainable development aims to benefit a broad range of stakeholders, not just the wealthy corporations entrenched in the energy sector.<\/span><\/p>\n