Beyond Regulation: How South Korea is Rebuilding Its Industrial Core

Hwang Seok‑soon, president of Asia Today. / Asia Today

Hwang Seok‑soon, president of Asia Today, said reductions in carbon emissions will soon mark a clear starting point for new growth and stressed the importance of a green transformation led by both government and industry.

Hwang made the remarks on May 29 at The Plaza Hotel in Jung‑gu, central Seoul, at the second Asia Today Environmental Forum. \”We stand at a pivotal turning point for human survival,\” he said. \”Where past economic growth emphasized quantitative expansion, we must now pursue qualitative development that reconciles environmental protection with economic growth.\”

The forum, titled \”Green Transformation: The Value of Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth,\” convened experts and industry leaders to discuss the direction of carbon‑neutral policy and strategies for industrial transition. Hwang said he hopes the event will produce concrete measures that align government policy support with private‑sector technological innovation.

He characterized the government’s carbon‑neutral policy as more than regulation, describing it instead as a process reshaping the industrial structure itself. He emphasized that the government is steering a green transformation that fundamentally alters the nation’s industrial framework rather than merely tightening rules to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets.

He said a rational reworking of the energy mix, bold R&D investment in low‑carbon technologies, and the establishment of institutional frameworks will serve as sturdy sails for South Korean companies, helping them weather the turbulent waters of global environmental regulation and steer toward new opportunities.

Hwang added that this national strategy will shape South Korea’s competitiveness in the global low‑carbon economy. Strategic state support, he said, will lay the groundwork for South Korea to emerge as a first mover in the global low‑carbon market.

He acknowledged the challenges of cutting carbon, noting that efforts across every sector driving South Korea’s economy are likely to be difficult at first. Still, he argued, these efforts will spur advanced technological innovation, create new markets and jobs, and become a powerful engine of growth. \”I believe the knowledge and experience shared here will lighten our collective steps toward carbon neutrality,\” he said, adding that he hopes the forum will mark a meaningful start toward leaving a cleaner, bluer planet for future generations.