Energy democracy for energy transition in South Korea?: Focusing on politicization of media

Abstract

South Korea has been pursuing energy transition as a national task since 2017 when the first nuclear reactor, Kori-1, was permanently stopped and President Moon Jae-in gave a commemorative speech on June 19, 2017. This study aims to identify who the main speakers of the conventional electricity system are and how they resist the movement of such changes. This study focused on the role of the media and found that the issue of energy transition has been highly politicized. Conservative media have criticized the Moon government's post-nuclear policy as a leverage and have highlighted problems surrounding renewable energy as it is a hotbed of great corruption. Those who oppose locating renewable energy facilities to their community have taken advantage of such press reports. Energy transition requires more energy citizens who recognize not only their right to enjoy basic energy needs, but also their responsibility for the socio-economic and environmental impacts of their energy use. The realization of energy democracy pursuing energy and climate justice will take time but social dialogue based on scientific evidence and deliberation will open the way toward energy transition while identifying fake news and opposing interests adhering to the conventional electricity system.