Historic milestone for offshore wind in South Korea
On February 27, 2025, South Korea’s National Assembly passed the Special Act on Offshore Wind, marking a significant breakthrough in the country’s clean energy transition. This legislation streamlines permitting, enhances the government’s role in site planning, and ensures grid connection and infrastructure planning. With this law in place, administrative hurdles and uncertainty for offshore wind projects are lessened, accelerating the country’s clean energy transition.
Why this matters
South Korea’s offshore wind sector has encountered regulatory bottlenecks, slow permitting processes and community concerns, limiting its ability to harness vast wind energy resources for years. With renewable energy currently making up less than 10% of the national power mix, this law is expected to be a game-changer, unlocking offshore wind’s potential through key measures, including:
- One-stop permitting system: Establishes a centralized comprehensive approval process, significantly reducing permitting time and regulatory hurdles.
- Government-led site planning: Introduces a planned site designation system, allowing the government to identify and manage suitable offshore wind locations proactively.
- Grid connection & infrastructure planning: Mandates early-stage grid planning, ensuring efficient connection of offshore wind projects to the national power system, minimizing delays.
The Special Act on Offshore Wind will allow South Korea to fully harness its offshore wind resources, attract investment in the industry and port infrastructure and secure clean energy for residents and industries in the region. It will also play a pivotal role in maritime decarbonization by supporting the production of green hydrogen, e-ammonia and e-methanol and accelerating the green transition of port infrastructure.
Pacific Environment has been actively advocating for the expansion of renewable energy on a large scale, particularly by engaging with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to enhance international shipping regulations. These regulations are driving massive future demand for large-scale renewable energy for producing zero-emission maritime fuel, reinforcing the urgency for timely policy actions in each country. To advance this commitment, Pacific Environment has facilitated key discussions in port cities and offshore wind hubs in South Korea, like Mokpo and Jeju, convening stakeholders from academia, the shipping and shipbuilding industries, civil society and local governments to align efforts in offshore wind deployment and port infrastructure for alternative maritime fuel.
What’s next?
With the law in place, the focus shifts to implementation. While the legislation will accelerate offshore wind deployment in South Korean waters with further plans and steps, concerns remain regarding the possible neglect of environmental impact due to the simplified process and the need for stronger public interest protections. These issues must be addressed through forthcoming enforcement decrees.
Pacific Environment, in collaboration with domestic and global partners, will continue working toward sustainable offshore wind deployment, maximizing its contribution to the energy transition and economic revitalization of port regions while minimizing or avoiding negative impacts on the local and ocean environment.
South Korea’s offshore wind future becomes brighter — now is the time to ensure its development is both systematic and sustainable!
