South Korea Expands Global Energy Reach with K-Grid Export Alliance

The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE) of South Korea has officially kicked off the K-Grid Export Alliance, aiming to strengthen the country’s presence in the global power infrastructure market. Deputy Minister for Energy Policy Lee Ho-hyeon chaired the first general meeting of the Alliance at the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-SURE) in Seoul, marking a significant step in advancing Korea’s power industry on the international stage.

The meeting, attended by representatives from 15 leading companies and institutions—including Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Korea Southern Power Co., Hyundai E&C, LS Electric, and the Korea Electric Association (KEA)—focused on export strategies amid growing global demand for advanced power solutions, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers.

Strategic Measures to Boost Exports

Since announcing its global power grid market strategy in December 2024, MOTIE has been working with export-supporting institutions to implement measures aimed at driving export growth in 2025. Key initiatives include:

• Expanded Financial Support: K-SURE will continue offering preferential loans, with credit limits up to double the previous amount, and insurance premium discounts of up to 20% for transformer and power cable exporters. The policy will also extend to energy storage system (ESS) exports.
• Centralized Trade Show Management: To enhance efficiency, overseas trade shows for power grids and related equipment, previously handled by multiple organizations, will now be managed by MOTIE and KEA. This consolidation is expected to streamline company recruitment, promotional efforts, and performance tracking, leading to more effective outcomes.

Public-Private Sector Collaboration

During the meeting, participants discussed strategies to navigate uncertainties in the global market while leveraging new opportunities. The discussions emphasized Korea’s expertise in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) as well as manufacturing to create a business model tailored to diverse international market needs.

Deputy Minister Lee highlighted the global power grid market as a critical growth avenue for Korea’s power industry, affirming that both the public and private sectors will collaborate to position it as the country’s next major energy cooperation model.