Issue Hydrogen and ammonia as the anchor of Korea-Japan green economy cooperation

Summary

As a concrete long-term economic project, the report examines green economy cooperation centered on hydrogen and ammonia. It argues the two governments should lay the groundwork for medium- to long-term cooperation by sharing a future vision of carbon neutrality in 2050. Hydrogen and ammonia are currently the only field in which the two governments are discussing cooperation under the carbon neutrality and green transformation framework, so they are urged to share their views of common challenges ahead of a hydrogen society and pursue realistic agendas. Proposals include building domestic hydrogen supply chains, jointly identifying overseas hydrogen projects and steering toward joint development and procurement of green hydrogen abroad, using co-financing and guarantees from policy finance institutions such as the Export-Import Bank of Korea, the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation, JBIC and NEXI. The report also recommends a policy dialogue channel on science and technology, bilateral and multilateral R&D cooperation, and collaboration on introducing and operating low-carbon hydrogen certification.