Evaluating a High Ambition Pathway for Decarbonization in the Republic of Korea

Suggested citation: J. Behrendt, M. Borrero, M. George, C. Bertram, A. Rader, D. Churlyaev, A. Kreis, J. Lou, N. Hultman and R. Cui. (April 2025). “Evaluating a High Ambition Pathway for Decarbonization in the Republic of Korea.” Center for Global Sustainability, College Park.

To achieve the High Ambition pathway, policy actions in Korea can focus on the following areas to deliver meaningful emissions reductions through 2035, including:   

• Power sector: Accelerating renewable deployment with wind and solar, contributing 47% of total generation by 2030 and 65% by 2035; canceling new coal and gas projects; and phasing out coal by 2035.
• Industry: Reducing steel emissions through the phase-out of blast furnaces and the deployment of hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (DRI) and electric arc furnaces (EAF); adopting fuel and material conversion in cement production; and using bio-naphtha as a feedstock for petrochemicals.
• Transportation: Focusing on EVs and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) instead of hybrid cars in the new vehicle sales targeting with more policy incentives; accelerating bus electrification within cities; and updating building codes for high-rise buildings to include specific requirements for charging infrastructure.