S. Korea eyes leadership role in global 'green' race

By Kim Deok-hyun
SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea aims to lead the rest of the world in
promoting environmental initiatives and developing clean technologies, the
nation's prime minister said Friday.

Addressing the opening of the final day of the World Economic Forum on East Asia
in Seoul, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo also expressed confidence that South Korea
could reshape its export-dependent business model through a "low-carbon, green
growth" strategy.
"The low-carbon, green growth strategy must be a new paradigm for not only South
Korea, but the international community as a whole," Han said at the forum, one of
several annual regional meetings hosted by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum.

"By changing, modernizing and creating new business models, South Korea becomes
an early mover in reducing carbon emission," he said.
"I believe South Korea will lead the world in developing sustainable and green
growth models," Han said.
Early this year, the South Korean government unveiled an ambitious plan to spend
50 trillion won (US$39.6 billion) over the next four years on "eco-friendly"
projects to help the nation's economy get out of its prolonged slump.
The so-called "Green New Deal" aims to create 956,000 jobs by refurbishing the
nation's major rivers, developing hybrid cars and creating renewable energy.
South Korea also said it would provide $200 million to set up the East Asia
Climate Partnership as part of its efforts to lead the region in cutting carbon
emissions.
Kim Hyung-kook, chairman of South Korea's Presidential Committee on Green Growth,
said the country would have difficulty sustaining its growth without going
greener, citing its high oil dependency.
Resource-poor South Korea, the world's fourth-biggest importer of crude oil,
depends almost entirely on foriegn energy imports.
"As for South Korea, the issue of decarbonization is how we can break away our
dependency on oil," Kim said.
kdh@yna.co.kr
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