President Yoon Meets IEA Director Birol... Example of Support for Carbon-Free Energy

President Yoon Suk-yeol is shaking hands with Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), after awarding him the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit, Gwanghwa Medal, at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 2nd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol met with Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the afternoon of the 2nd, the presidential office announced.

President Yoon welcomed Executive Director Birol, saying it was especially meaningful that the IEA and the Republic of Korea government are jointly hosting this year's second Climate Industry International Expo, in which over 500 Korean companies in the fields of nuclear power, hydrogen, renewable energy, and critical minerals plan to participate.

Executive Director Birol visited Korea to attend the Climate Industry International Expo, jointly hosted by the government and the IEA in Busan from the 4th to the 6th.

President Yoon highly praised the IEA under Executive Director Birol's leadership for emphasizing the role of clean energy in addressing complex risks such as abnormal weather phenomena occurring worldwide, geopolitical risks, and the energy security crisis, and explained that Korea has successfully harmonized advanced manufacturing competitiveness and the environment by increasing the utilization of clean energy technologies.

He also suggested that since Korea's experience can serve as a good guide for developing countries starting manufacturing industries, they should create many exemplary cases together with the IEA going forward.

Executive Director Birol said, "Korea's CFE initiative demonstrates exemplary leadership in enhancing energy security while achieving climate goals," adding, "This aligns well with the IEA's approach to providing safe, affordable, and sustainable energy for all."

He continued, "Nuclear power has many advantages in responding to the climate crisis and securing energy security, and its importance is being increasingly recognized among many countries including Korea, Canada, China, France, India, Japan, Poland, the United States, and the United Kingdom," and said, "I would like to highly commend Korea's achievements in constructing reactors on schedule and within budget, and leading innovative technologies such as SMRs."

Meanwhile, President Yoon awarded Executive Director Birol the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit, Gwanghwa Medal, recognizing his contributions to the global spread of carbon-free energy and efforts to strengthen cooperation between Korea and the IEA.