South Korea Holds Public Hearing On Green Economy Partnership Agreement Participation

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) held a public hearing on July 24, 2026, at the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) to discuss South Korea’s participation in the proposed Green Economy Partnership Agreement (GEPA). The meeting was organized under Article 7 of the Act on the Conclusion Procedure and Implementation of Commercial Treaties, also known as the Trade Procedures Act. The purpose of the hearing was to gather opinions from stakeholders, experts, and the public before the government prepares its plan for joining the trade agreement.

GEPA is a plurilateral trade initiative that was announced by Singapore, New Zealand, and Chile during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting held in Gyeongju in October 2025. The agreement aims to develop new trade rules for the green economy. It seeks to ensure that climate-related policies introduced by different countries do not create unnecessary barriers to international trade while encouraging trade and investment in green industries.

According to MOTIR, the three founding countries have already played leading roles in creating modern trade frameworks, including the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA). South Korea believes that joining GEPA would allow it to work with these countries in shaping future trade rules while ensuring that the interests of Korean businesses are reflected during negotiations.

Kim Jang-hee, Director General for Emerging Trade Strategy and Policy at MOTIR, chaired the hearing and stressed the need for new trade rules that support transparent, science-based environmental measures. He said stronger regulatory cooperation among countries is becoming increasingly important as climate policies continue to expand around the world.

Kim also noted that the government would prepare a detailed plan for pursuing the agreement with the goal of strengthening the competitiveness of Korean industries. He added that greater cooperation in green markets could create new export opportunities while supporting climate action.

MOTIR said it will carefully review the opinions collected during the hearing before moving ahead with the domestic procedures required under the Trade Procedures Act for South Korea’s participation in GEPA negotiations.