[Report] LG Seeks Samsung, SK Knocks on POSCO's Door... Sharing Carbon Neutrality Ideas (Comprehensive)

Busan Climate Industry International Expo

"This is a solar-powered remote control that automatically charges with indoor lighting. It uses about 86% less electricity than conventional remotes, and it has been released in North America since last year." (Samsung Electronics official)

"Consumers are very resistant to the price of remotes, so LG Electronics does not have (solar-powered remotes) yet. Both companies share the goal of energy saving and are on the same starting line. It depends on who will develop it better and how in the future." (LG Electronics official visiting Samsung Electronics booth)

Samsung Electronics Booth at the Climate Industry International Expo on the 25th
Photo by Choi Seoyoon

At the Samsung Electronics booth at the 'International Climate Industry Expo' that opened on the 25th, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics met in Busan to share concerns about carbon neutrality and energy saving. An official from LG Electronics' H&A Business Division, who visited the Samsung Electronics booth, said, "It seems that the exhibition focuses on energy-saving technologies," and added, "LG Electronics is also putting a lot of thought into continuously introducing better products and solutions to achieve carbon neutrality."

LG Group Booth at the Climate Industry International Expo on the 25th
Photo by Choi Seoyoon

On this day, Samsung Electronics introduced its unique approach to minimizing environmental impact throughout the semiconductor production and disposal process under the theme of 'Semiconductor Technology for Sustainability.' A booth official explained, "Through the large-capacity integrated greenhouse gas treatment facility 'RCS,' the only one of its kind in the global semiconductor industry, we have increased carbon treatment efficiency in the manufacturing process up to 95%," adding, "We are increasing water reuse and purifying emissions cleaner than legal standards."

Hosted by 12 government ministries including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, this three-day event featured about 500 domestic and international companies with 2,195 booths showcasing various carbon reduction technologies. Hyundai Motor Group presented a variety of eco-friendly mobility solutions that enhance both environmental friendliness and efficiency. At the Hyundai Motor Group booth, crowds gathered from all directions to see a large hydrogen fuel cell truck measuring 3.7 meters in height and 7 meters in length.

A booth official said, "The hydrogen fuel cell truck can carry 6,400 liters of liquid and spray 1,000 liters per minute, so it can also be used to extinguish fires," adding, "The vehicle sprays liquid within a wide radius of 3.2 meters at the rear, making it an eco-friendly mobility solution that cleans quietly and cleanly." The EV9, Kia's first large electric sports utility vehicle (SUV), was also very popular. A booth official said, "There is high interest in the EV9, which was unveiled in person for the first time at this event," and added, "The EV9, currently accepting pre-orders, can travel up to 500 km on a single charge."

Hydrogen fuel cell truck exhibited at Hyundai Motor Group booth at the Climate Industry International Expo on the 25th
[Photo by Choi Seoyoon]

SK Group, led by Chairman and Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Chey Tae-won, who was the only head of the four major groups to visit the Busan event site, mobilized six subsidiaries working hard on carbon reduction. The integrated booth covers 450㎡ (136 pyeong). At this massive booth, SK Group installed models of carbon dioxide capture facilities, an actual electric vehicle battery capable of charging up to 80% in 180,000 units, and scaled-down models of 94-meter-high offshore wind power substructures and floating bodies, focusing on helping visitors visually confirm and easily understand SK's net-zero efforts.

SK Group Booth at the Climate Industry International Expo on the 25th
Photo by Choi Seoyoon

SK Ecoplant, which changed its name from SK Construction two years ago, introduced its battery recycling projects ongoing in 23 countries including the UK, Germany, and China, and showcased AI-based water treatment technologies. To this end, it recruited AI personnel from Samsung SDS and Kakao last year. An SK Ecoplant official said, "We did not enter the environmental business simply to make money as a construction company, but to radically change our management direction for net-zero," adding, "We are also seeing results such as exporting environmental technologies to Vietnam."

Kim Kwang-jo, Vice President and Head of the SV Promotion Team at SK Supex Council, and Cha Guk-cheol, Vice President of SK, are listening to an explanation from a POSCO manager about the steel manufacturing process based on hydrogen reduction steelmaking.
[Photo by Choi Seo-yoon]

At the POSCO booth, there was high interest from visitors in hydrogen reduction steelmaking, a steelmaking technology that does not use coal. POSCO plans to install a demo plant applying electric furnace and hydrogen reduction steelmaking technology at the Pohang Steelworks in 2026. Kim Do-eun, a graduate student in the Department of Future Electronics Convergence Engineering at Dongguk University, said, "Since eco-friendly technology can be applied using existing POSCO steel business equipment, it seems to have advantages in terms of infrastructure."

SK Group, which is also focusing on clean energy businesses such as hydrogen energy, showed interest in POSCO's carbon neutrality-related technologies. Kim Kwang-jo, Vice President and Head of the SV Promotion Team at SK Supex Council, who visited the POSCO booth, listened to explanations about the hydrogen reduction steelmaking-based steel manufacturing process and vision, and said, "It might be good to plan a business together with SK E&S, which is focusing on the hydrogen business."

On the 25th, the HD Hyundai Group booth at the Climate Industry International Expo. A mockup of a future hydrogen carrier ship was displayed at the front of the booth.
[Photo by Choi Seoyoon]

"Can I take a picture?" A man in his 40s visiting the HD Hyundai booth asked a staff member while pointing at a mockup of a future hydrogen carrier ship that looked like a small spaceship. This vessel is equipped with fully autonomous navigation technology that operates without a crew. Kim Hyun-jae, a researcher on the Avikus large vessel autonomous navigation team, said, "Unlike conventional ships that have a bridge and cabins, as you can see, this is a fully crewless carrier ship," adding, "Wing sails are equipped with solar modules to install an eco-friendly power chain."

At the Doosan Group booth, which unveiled a hydrogen gas turbine for the first time on this day, a huge crowd gathered. Visitors asked many questions about the roles of hundreds of blades attached to the turbine and the principles of power generation. A booth official said, "Since succeeding in domestic production of industrial gas turbines in 2019, we have been focusing on developing hydrogen-only fuel hydrogen combustion turbines," adding, "As an intermediate step, we are also developing hydrogen co-firing turbines that can use both hydrogen and LNG."

On the 25th, a visitor at the Doosan Group booth at the Climate Industry International Expo asks questions about the hydrogen gas turbine.
Photo by Choi Seoyoon

Visitors were also very curious about the manufacturing principles of small modular reactors (SMRs). Doosan is the only SMR manufacturer in Korea and produces main equipment casting and forging materials for NuScale in the U.S. at its Changwon factory. Casting and forging refer to methods of manufacturing by pouring molten metal into molds and pressing metal blocks with a press machine, respectively. Park Soo-yong, head of the Nuclear BG team, said, "Although we started SMR development early, it has been delayed longer than other countries due to the nuclear phase-out policy," adding, "However, with the recent pro-nuclear policy, the nuclear industry is gradually reviving, so we expect to quickly regain lost technological capabilities."

At the Hanwha Solutions booth, a prototype of a soundproof wall solar module was unveiled for the first time. It was developed by Qcells, part of Hanwha Solutions' renewable energy business division. Hanwha Qcells plans to add soundproofing and light pollution reduction functions to this black, rough vinyl-like solar module. A booth official explained, "Once product development is complete, it can be installed alongside roads or railways to serve both as a soundproof wall and a power generator."

Hanwha Solutions Q CELLS Division unveiled its soundproof solar module for the first time at the Climate Industry International Expo on the 25th.
[Photo by Choi Seoyoon]

On the same day, the 'International Nuclear Clean Hydrogen Business Forum' was held as a special event of the International Climate Industry Expo. The 150 nuclear and hydrogen industry experts gathered on-site agreed that nuclear power is a competitive source for hydrogen production and that this is a global trend. Lucas Mir, leader of the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) under the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), who gave the keynote speech, emphasized, "Governments and industries must cooperate immediately to commercially utilize nuclear energy systems including hydrogen and SMRs." In a subsequent lecture, Pierre Gaboual, head of SMR R&D at the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), said, "Under the common goal of optimizing high-temperature electrolysis systems, we can cooperate with Korea through various projects."

The 'Nuclear Clean Hydrogen International Business Forum' held as a special event of the Climate Industry International Expo on the 25th at BEXCO, Busan.
Photo by Choi Seoyoon