By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

The Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KGCCI), led by President & CEO Marie Antonia von Schönburg, and the German Embassy Seoul co-hosted the Korean-German Climate & Environment Conference 2025 on November 13 at Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotel, South Korea.

This year’s conference, held under the theme “Boosting Energy Efficiency in Industry: Pathways to a Sustainable Future,” brought together over 80 government officials, business leaders, and climate experts from both countries. Participants explored strategies to combat climate change, foster collaboration between Germany and South Korea, and build resilient supply chains that align with national carbon neutrality targets.

The event commenced with welcome remarks from Jörn Beissert, Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in South Korea, and Marie Antonia von Schönburg, President and CEO of KGCCI. Dr. Sung-il Kim, Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), delivered a keynote speech on ‘The Pivotal Role of Energy Efficiency in Achieving Net Zero in the Industrial Sector”, emphasizing the pivotal role of energy efficiency in achieving industrial net-zero targets.

Jörn Beissert, Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in South Korea, stated, “Energy efficiency continues to play a key role in our efforts to mitigate climate change. There is still tremendous potential to be unlocked. German companies have the technologies needed and are ready to cooperate with Korean partners.”

The conference featured two key sessions. Session 1, titled “Government Policies and Initiatives for Energy Efficiency in Industry,” featured a presentation by Dietmar Grundig, Director, Head of Industry and Trade, German Energy Agency, along with Kil-Hwan Kim, Team Manager, Energy Consulting Division, Korea Energy Agency. Speakers discussed national strategies, incentive programs, and policy frameworks aimed at accelerating energy efficiency in the industrial sector.

Session 2, “Advancing Energy Efficiency and Greater Innovation for a Net-Zero Future,” highlighted advanced industrial solutions and practical applications to drive industrial energy efficiency and achieve net-zero emissions. The session was moderated by Dr. Seung-bin Lim, Director/Principal Researcher at Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP), and featured a panel discussion with Hajoong Chung, President & CEO of Siemens Korea; Byongcheol Seo, Head of Industry Sales, Wilo Pump; Hanyoung Kim, Vice Director of R&D Center, Shinsung Engineering; Junewoo Ryu, President & Co-Founder of Gridwiz Inc. Panelists shared real-world approaches to energy-efficient technologies, industrial decarbonization, and digital solutions for sustainable manufacturing, underscoring the importance of Korean-German collaboration in accelerating the green industrial transition.

Marie Antonia von Schönburg, President and CEO of KGCCI, emphasized that collaboration remains the key to driving industrial transformation, stating, “Energy efficiency is now central to industrial competitiveness. Net-zero demands true partnership across business, government, and research — and Korea and Germany are leading by example. Together, we are accelerating decarbonization and strengthening a resilient, sustainable industrial future.”