Iran Shock Boosts South Korea's Push to Cut Fossil Fuel Imports.

The article focuses on South Korea’s accelerated efforts to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels amid the Iran-driven energy shock, which has intensified concerns over energy security. President Lee Jae Myung is advancing a clean-energy agenda that includes phasing out coal by 2040, cutting gas use, expanding renewables, and upgrading the power grid, supported by a supplementary budget for solar, wind, energy storage, and electric vehicle (EV) subsidies. Despite rising domestic EV sales and solar imports, South Korea still depends heavily on fossil fuels, with coal and gas dominating power generation, and faces challenges such as slow permitting and grid constraints. Analysts note that while the crisis has created momentum for change, deeper reforms—especially in electricity market liberalization—are needed to sustain and accelerate the energy transition. [Extracted from the article]