Potenzialità e criticità dell'economia dell'idrogeno e dei corridoi verdi in Corea del Sud

Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the significant geopolitical upheaval that followed have had a major impact on energy dynamics, profoundly affecting economies globally. This paper examines the case of South Korea, a highly export-driven advanced industrialized economy that is equally heavily dependent on energy imports, which account for 97% of consumption. For decades, the country's energy mix has relied heavily on fossil fuels, while renewable energy sources have traditionally accounted for a negligible share of the energy mix. This is slowly changing, although the share in the country's energy production remains, overall, negligible. Furthermore, South Korea's annual energy consumption is among the top ten in the world, as many of its key industries tend to be energy-intensive and heavily dependent on a steady supply of electricity, thus limiting the potential of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind due to the intermittent nature of supply and known storage issues. Seoul's heavy reliance on a small number of key partners (including Russia) has left Korea exposed to a range of geopolitical and economic risks. Thus, Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 led to a surge and volatility in fossil fuel prices, which, combined with broader global geopolitical tensions and the urgent need to address climate change, have rekindled global concerns about energy security. The ripple effects of energy price fluctuations triggered by the invasion of Ukraine have been felt acutely in South Korea, as they have been across Asia, and the logic of South Korea’s dependence on fossil fuels in the name of energy security has begun to unravel. In an effort to safeguard macroeconomic stability and bridge the energy gap triggered by the war, South Korea has since recalibrated its energy import portfolio, moving away from Russia and toward other energy-exporting nations such as Australia and the United States. Additionally, Korean companies, supported by the government, have embarked on a search for alternative production materials to replace those sourced from Russia. Overall, the country has stepped up its efforts to develop energy sources and explore new energy resources. This article focuses on two cases where Korea is making visible progress in mitigating its energy vulnerabilities: its domestic mobility (transport) sector with a push towards introducing a hydrogen economy, and internationally, the greening of its trade and shipping industry through the possible adoption of green shipping corridors linking the United States and Japan, and potentially beyond. Despite a late adoption of decarbonization measures, South Korea is now rapidly catching up in a number of important sectors, aiming to maintain its important global trade links and economic competitiveness.