His Excellency Lee Jae Myung
President of the Republic of Korea
Cheong Wa Dae
Seoul, Republic of Korea
cc: Minister of Climate, Energy, and Environment, Kim Sungwhan
Dear Mr. President,
Allow me to extend my sincere congratulations on your recent election and offer my highest respect for your courage in defending democracy in South Korea. With the inauguration of your government, Korea has demonstrated remarkable leadership and strengthened its role on the global stage. Korea’s willingness to host major international climate gatherings such as UN climate negotiations in 2028 (COP33), the UN Ocean Conference, and the G20, along with active participation in the recent Clean Energy Ministerial and the upcoming APEC Summit, is inspiring to the international community and exemplifies Korea’s commitment to advancing global cooperation on climate and sustainable development.
This international leadership is matched by your administration’s ambitious domestic clean energy agenda. I am inspired by your plans to more than double renewable energy capacity from 35GW to over 78GW by 2030. Equally significant is the planned 30% expansion of the transmission network, centered on the “energy highway,” which will ensure the efficient integration of renewable power. These efforts will support rising electricity demand driven by AI and digital transformation while aligning with strengthened international climate regulations. In parallel, the introduction of multiple bills in the National Assembly calling for the 2035 NDC target to be set at no less than a 60% reduction further underscores Korea’s growing momentum toward a decisive energy transition.
In my view, phasing out coal is central to this transformation and cementing Korea’s position as a true international climate leader. Countries such as the UK, Ireland, and Finland have already completed their coal phase-outs, while Spain (2025), Greece (2026), and Italy (2028) are on track to follow soon. Korea, with its advanced technology and robust economy, is well placed to lead in Asia. A joint study by the Carbon Tracker Initiative and Chungnam National University found that a 2028 coal phase-out is both technically and economically feasible, as most domestic coal plants will become unprofitable within the next decade and can be cost-effectively replaced by renewables with power market reforms. The expert guidance from the International Energy Agency and UNEP tells us that rapidly transitioning away from fossil fuels, particularly coal and gas, remains an urgent priority, yet collective progress still falls far short of what is needed to keep the goals of the Paris Agreement within reach.
Given these findings, the critical task now is to chart a path toward phasing out existing coal power. A phase-out by the early 2030s is not only possible, but within Korea’s reach given its technological capacity, policy momentum, and economic trajectory. What is urgently needed is a clear and ambitious roadmap that lays out how this transition will be implemented. By officially setting an early coal phase-out year—backed by a credible, detailed plan—Korea can demonstrate exemplary leadership in the region and globally, showing that an accelerated transition away from coal is both achievable and beneficial. Aligning the forthcoming 2035 NDC with this trajectory, Korea can sustain its leadership and embed it clearly in its long-term climate strategy, particularly in light of the Constitutional Court’s recent ruling underscoring the need to better safeguard the constitutional rights of future generations.
Korea’s strengths in technological innovation, financial capacity, and international standing position it to lead a just and forward-looking transition away from coal. An announcement along these lines during the United Nations General Assembly would send a powerful signal – not only to global markets and partners but also across Asia – that Korea is prepared to lead in building a clean, secure, and competitive energy future.
Thank you sincerely for your attention to this matter. I look forward to Korea’s continued leadership and would be eager to see how we might further support and amplify Korea’s efforts on the international stage.
Sincerely,
Al Gore