Korea’s Green New Deal: Security through transition
South Korea, while not a fossil fuel exporter, is one of the most energy-import-dependent economies in the OECD. Nearly 90 percent of its energy is imported, much of it from the Persian Gulf. Energy insecurity, whether from oil price shocks, geopolitical conflict in the Middle East or instability in shipping routes, has long haunted policymakers in Seoul.
The government’s Green New Deal and commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 is therefore not only about environmental responsibility, but about security. Expanding renewables, building a hydrogen economy and advancing nuclear energy are all designed to insulate Korea from the volatility of global fuel markets while meeting its climate commitments. Korea remains structurally dependent on heavy industry such as steel, petrochemicals, shipbuilding and semiconductors, all of which are energy-intensive and reliant on fossil fuel. These sectors make up the backbone of Korea’s export economy, complicating efforts to shift rapidly away from coal and liquefied natural gas. Decarbonization, therefore, is not only an energy challenge but also an industrial transformation, requiring Seoul to balance its climate goals with economic competitiveness.
Public pressure is also mounting. Korean civil society has pushed for faster coal phase-outs, but vested industrial interests and the fear of job losses have slowed progress. The result is a “carbon lock-in” where the pace of energy transition lags behind the ambition of announced policies. This contrasts with the UAE’s strategy of using sovereign wealth funds to aggressively diversify investments into renewables and green tech, illustrating how financial tools can accelerate structural change.
Learning from each other
The Gulf’s experience shows Korea the importance of reframing climate adaptation as a national security priority. Just as Abu Dhabi links food, water and climate under its national resilience agenda, Korea could elevate climate risks in defense white papers and foreign policy strategy.
There is also room for direct cooperation. Korea’s engineering and technological expertise could accelerate Gulf investments in renewable energy and carbon-neutral cities. Meanwhile, the UAE’s sovereign wealth funds and global investment reach could support Korea’s clean-tech ventures. Joint research on desalination, hydrogen shipping and carbon capture could benefit both economies while helping stabilize global supply chains for clean energy technologies.
Synergies for a volatile world
Both the Gulf and Korea face similar vulnerabilities, namely exposure to external shocks, dependence on imported food and energy and the need to reassure populations that resilience is achievable.
Oil once tied the Gulf and Korea together in a one-dimensional trade relationship. Now, climate and clean energy offer a broader, future-oriented bond. Both regions know that in the decades ahead, the battle for resilience will be fought not only in parliaments and boardrooms, but also in how societies prepare for hotter summers, disrupted trade and new technologies.
Gulf wealth and vision combined with Korean innovation and discipline could form a formidable axis of climate resilience. If oil defined the 20th-century Gulf-Korea partnership, perhaps the 21st will be defined by solar panels, hydrogen pipelines and a shared recognition that climate security is national security.
Dr. Kristian Alexander is a senior fellow at the Rabdan Security & Defense Institute (RSDI) in Abu Dhabi, UAE.