Favorable 'Three-Sided Sea' Geography... Industry with 15.6% Annual Growth Potential [Reading Science]

Challenges and Opportunities for Korean-Style Blue Chemistry
South Korea's Geographical Advantage with Three Sides Surrounded by the Sea
World-Class Industrial Base
High Production Costs and Securing Social Acceptance Remain Challenges

South Korea is well-positioned to lead in blue chemistry thanks to its geographical environment, with three sides surrounded by the sea, and its world-class process and materials industry base. The geographical advantage of being able to combine marine resources with chemical technology, along with the precision process capabilities accumulated in the semiconductor and biotechnology industries, works favorably in translating laboratory achievements into industrial applications.

In the water treatment sector, South Korea has strengths in reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) filter technologies for seawater desalination. LG Chem plans to invest 124.6 billion won in its Cheongju RO filter plant by 2025, establishing an annual production system of 400,000 units. This capacity can supply 157 million tons of fresh water per year, providing water to about 16 million people. Domestic companies like Filos also supply a variety of filters across all areas-microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis (RO)-serving as key components in water purification and wastewater treatment systems. These capabilities provide a foundation for South Korea to develop water resource acquisition technologies as an export industry in the era of climate crisis.

There has also been visible progress in the field of carbon resource utilization. The research team at Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) developed an electrochemical catalyst technology that converts CO₂ into allyl alcohol, achieving global-level efficiency. The government is expanding this into the demonstration phase through industry-academia-research CCU (carbon capture and utilization) projects. POSCO and SK are conducting demonstration projects to convert captured CO₂ into chemical raw materials and synthetic fuels, accelerating the application of these technologies in industrial settings.

There are also commercialization cases in the food and chemical industries that are tangible to general consumers. CJ CheilJedang established an annual production system of 5,000 tons of PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) at its Indonesian production base under the 'PHACT' brand in 2022, ranking among the top in global production. The PHA market is projected to grow from 73.12 million dollars in 2024 to approximately 174.68 million dollars by 2030, with an average annual growth rate of 15.6%.

However, clear challenges remain. Bio-plastics based on microalgae and seaweed have high production costs, making it difficult to compete in price with conventional petroleum-based materials. Carbon absorption technologies such as ocean alkalinity enhancement also face commercialization hurdles unless issues related to ecological impact and cost burden are resolved.

Experts point out that long-term strategy and international cooperation are necessary for South Korea to leverage its industrial foundation. Lee Junghyun, a researcher at the Marine Biotechnology Research Center of the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, advised, "South Korea has the foundation for the development of blue chemistry, such as marine resources and industrial capabilities, but it must be supported by institutional and social consensus in order to become a sustainable leader in technology."