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A National Vision

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IEEE power & energy magazine

1540-7977/11/$26.002011 IEEE

january/february 2011

A NEW NATIONAL VISION FOR LOW-CARBON, GREEN

growth was announced in Korea on 15 August 2008, and a more
concrete plan was initiated through the presidential green-growth
committee on 16 February 2009. Korea is thus actively pursuing
sustainable development dealing with climate change and energy
security. At the same time, it is shifting toward a low-carbon economy and a society capable of recovering from climate change. As
part of these efforts, Korea has launched a national smart grid
project to achieve green growth in a proactive, transparent, comprehensive, and effective way. The project envisions laying the
foundation for a low-carbon, green-growth economy by building
a smart grid. It will thus serve as a yardstick with which to evaluate the future of Koreas green-growth economy. Koreas ambitious plan to build a smart grid is evidence of its determination to
realize its low carbon and green-growth strategy. In this article, a
national vision and road map toward the smart grid in Korea will
be presented, followed by a discussion of future policy directions
for the successful implementation of the smart grid.

National Road Map for the Smart Grid

Background

Policy Directions
for the Smart Grid
in Korea

Jinho Kim
and Hong-Il Park

Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MPE.2010.939166

Date of publication: 21 December 2010

january/february 2011

Korea has recognized the necessity of rolling out the smart grid as
infrastructure for the low-carbon, green-energy economy in order
to help meet its binding commitment to reductions of greenhousegas emissions. With that in mind, the Korean government has begun
to implement relevant policies, action plans, and projects that can
be echoed by the public. Korea is pursuing the smart grid initiative
as a top national agenda to help achieve its vision of a low-carbon
and green-growth economy. In line with this national direction,
Koreas presidential green-growth committee in 2009 publicly presented its vision for building an advanced, green-energy country
and specified the primary contents of the smart grid. Afterwards,
in November 2009, the committee collected the views of experts
from industry, academia, and various research institutes in order to
outline a national road map. As a leader in smart grid technology,
Korea announced a smart grid national road map in 2009 that calls
for complete nationwide implementation of smart grid technology
by 2030. The vision and goals for Koreas smart grid implementation are shown in Figure 1.
To achieve its national goal of reducing greenhouse-gas emissionsKorea has committed to cutting its emissions by 30% as
compared with a business-as-usual (BAU) baseline by 2020
Korea has decided to build its smart grid as a fundamental enabler
for expanding the supply of renewable energy and electric vehicles. As Korea works to ensure national energy self-sufficiency
and the transition to a low-carbon society (the 2008 national
energy master plan aims at a 46.7% energy source unit increase
by 2030that is, an annual average increase of 2.1%), the implementation of the smart grid will be a powerful means of raising
energy efficiency through power demand dispersion and energy
savings. In addition, as the smart grid market is expected to grow
rapidly, Korea wants to enter the global market and turn its gains
in this area into a major export industry by capitalizing on smart
grid technology as a new national growth engine.
IEEE power & energy magazine

41

Vision and Goals of Koreas Smart Grid

Pave the Way for Low Carbon, Green Growth Through a Smart Grid
Vision
Build a Nationwide Smart Grid
Goals
by Phase

2030

Build a Smart Grid Across Metropolitan Areas

Build a Smart Grid Test-Bed

2020

2012

Five
Implementation
Areas

Smart Power Grid

Build a Monitoring and Control System of the Power Grid

Build a Failure Prediction and Automatic Recovery
System of the Power Grid

Smart Place

Distribute Nationwide Smart Meters

Build an Automated Energy Management System

Smart Transportation

Build a Nationwide Charging Infrastructure

Build an ICT-Based Electric Vehicle Operating System

Smart Renewable

Create a Large-Scale Renewable Energy Generation

Complex
Develop Large Capacity Energy Storage Devices

Smart Electricity Service

Develop a Various Pricing System

Develop Consumers Electricity Trading System

figure 1. The vision and goals for Koreas smart grid.

Therefore, in order to respond to climate change, increase

energy efficiency, and create a new growth engine for its
economy, Korea has established a national road map for a
smart grid that includes three phases and five implementation areas.

Smart Grid Vision

and Implementation Areas
The national vision of a smart grid in Korea has been set to
realize a low-carbon and green-growth society by establishing
the worlds best nationwide smart grid infrastructure. Capitalizing on certain national advantageshighly populated
land, the worlds best broadband Internet networks, and a
single power transmission and distribution companyKorea
has established a proactive and ambitious plan for a full,
nationwide implementation of smart grid technology. In the
first stage, a smart grid test bed with innovative technology
and business applications will be built by 2012. In the second
stage, smart grid infrastructures focused on consumer benefits
will be built across Koreas metropolitan areas by 2020. In the
final stage, the worlds first-ever nationwide smart grid will
be completed by 2030. The three stages of the plan are summarized in Table 1.
Unlike other countries, Korea has chosen to focus primarily on emerging new business opportunities in five implementation areas:
a smart power grid
smart homes and buildings (enabling smart consumers)
smart transportation
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IEEE power & energy magazine

smart renewable energy

smart electricity service.

First, the smart power grid project will build a power

grid that allows various kinds of interconnections between
areas where energy is consumed and energy supply sources.
The rolling out of such networks will pave the way for new
business models and for the building of a power grid selfdetecting and automatic recovery system that will ensure a
reliable and high-quality power supply. By 2030, the project aims to realize an annual blackout time per household
and transmission and distribution loss of nine minutes and
3%, respectively.
Koreas smart consumer project will encourage consumers to save energy by using real-time information and smart
appliances in buildings and homes that operate in response
to real-time wholesale market prices and retail electric utility rates. The smart consumer project has set power consumption savings and smart meter diffusion rate targets of
10% and 100%, respectively, by 2030. The key implementation targets for the smart power grid and smart consumer
initiatives are shown in Figure 2.
Next, a smart transportation project will build a nationwide
charging infrastructure that will allow electric vehicles to be
charged in a wide variety of locations. It also establishes a
vehicle-to-grid (V2G) system in which the batteries of electric
vehicles are charged during off-peak hours while the resale of
surplus electricity takes place during peak times. The smart
transportation project aims to deploy 2,456,000 electric vehicles and commission 27,140 quick-charging stations by 2030.
january/february 2011

table 1. Koreas smart grid implementation plan.

Implementation
Directions by Phase

First Stage (20102012)

Construction and operation of
the smart grid test-bed (technical
validation)

Second Stage (20122020)

Expansion into metropolitan areas
(intelligent consumers)

Third Stage (20212030)

Completion of a nationwide
power grid (intelligent
power grid)

Smart Power Grid

Real-time power grid monitoring Predict possible failures in power Self-recovery of power grids
Operate an integrated
grids
Digital power transmission
energy smart grid
Connect the power system with
Operate optimal distribution
that of other countries
system
Connect the power delivery
system with distributed generation
and power storage devices

Smart Consumer

Power management of intelligent Smart power management of

buildings/factories
homes
Encourage consumers power
Various choices for consumers
production
including rates

Smart Transportation

Build and test electric vehicle

charging facilities
Operate electric vehicles as a
pilot project

Expand electric vehicle charging

facilities across the nation
Effective maintenance and
management of electric vehicles

Make the presence

of charging facilities
commonly available
Diversify charging methods
Utilize portable power
storage devices

Smart Renewable

Operate microgrids by
connecting distributed
generation, power storage
devices and electric vehicles
Expanded utilization of power
storage devices and distributed
generation

Optimal operation of the power

system with microgrids
Expand the application of power
storage devices

Make renewable energy

universally available

Smart Electricity
Service

Consumers choice of electricity Promote transactions of electrical

power derivatives
rates
Consumers selling of renewable Implement real-time pricing
system nationwide
energy
Emergence of voluntary market
participants

Zero energy homes/

buildings

Promote various types

of electrical power
transactions
Promote convergence for
the market of electricitybased sectors
Lead the power market in
Northeast Asia

The smart renewable energy project will build a smart deliver a wide array of added electricity services through the
renewable energy power generation complex across the marriage of electricity and information and communication
nation by rolling out microgrids. This will ultimately lead technology (ICT) and to put in place a real-time electricity
to the emergence of houses, buildings, and villages that trading system for the exchange of electricity and derivacan achieve energy self-sufficiency through the deploy- tives. The smart electricity service project has set a conment of small-scale renewable energy generation units in sumer participation target of 30% by 2030.
every end users location. The
smart renewable energy project
has set market penetration and
Blackout Time Per Household
Power Transmission and Distribution
household self-sufficiency ratio
Loss Rate
targets of 11% and 30%, respectively, by 2030.
3.9%
15 min
12 min
9 min
3.5%
Finally, with the launch of a
3.0%
2012
2020
2030
2012
2020
2030
variety of energy-saving electricity rate plans, the smart electricity
Smart Meters and AMI Penetration Rate
Maximum Power Reduction
service project will offer consumers more choice in satisfying their
5.6%
100%
Applied on
energy needs. Key implementa5%
10%
a Trial Basis
tion targets for smart transportation, renewable energy, and elec2020
2030
2012
2020
2012
tricity service are presented in
Figure 3. In addition, it aims to figure 2. Key implementation targets for the smart power grid and the smart consumer.
january/february 2011

IEEE power & energy magazine

43

Investment and Expected Benefits

To ensure the successful implementation of the smart grid in
Korea, a total of KRW27.5 trillion will be invested by 2030.
KRW24.8 trillion will be secured through private investment, while KRW2.7 trillion will be invested by the government. More specifically, KRW20.5 trillion will be invested
in building the smart grid infrastructure and KRW7 trillion in
technological R&D.
The expected benefits of the implementation of the
smart grid in Korea have been calculated using an
IBM-developed simulation tool, with indexes reflecting
the stepwise targets in the five implementation areas. In
summary, by 2030 a nationwide smart grid implementation in Korea is expected to have reduced greenhouse gas
emissions by a total of 230 million tons, to have created an
average of 50,000 new jobs each year, and to have given
table 2. Investment plan and key
expected benefits (estimated).
Investment Plan

Details (By 2030)

Private investment
Government investment
Total

KRW 24.8 trillion

KRW 2.7 trillion
KRW 27.5 trillion

Expected Benefits
Greenhouse gas reduction
Job creation
Domestic demand creation
Energy import reduction
Power plant avoidance
Export hike

Details (By 2030)

230 million tons
50,000 per annum
KRW 74 trillion
KRW 47 trillion
KRW 3.2 trillion
KRW 49 trillion

rise to new domestic demand for goods and services of up

to KRW74 trillion. Both the investment and the expected
benefits are summarized in Table 2.

Policy Directions for

Implementation of the Road Map
To successfully execute the road map for a national smart
grid, the Korean government has specified several policy
tasks, including but not limited to support for technological R&D and industrialization, promotion of successful
implementation models, building infrastructure, and establishing legal and regulatory frameworks. These are summarized in Table 3.
First, in support of technological R&D and industrialization, a national support system for energy-storing technology, core technology to prepare for a power grid with
upgraded ICT, and security technology will be implemented.
These are the core technologies needed for renewable power
generation and electric vehicle diffusion. In addition, policies to boost domestic demand and promote the opening of
overseas markets will be put in place.
Next, to promote a model for successful implementation, incentives for realizing a successful implementation
in the Jeju smart grid test bed will be provided. In addition, strategies supporting the creation of new technologies and products will be provided; these will include certification programs for smart products and incentives that
encourage their commercialization.
To efficiently support smart grid infrastructure building, the core smart grid infrastructure will be established

table 3. Policy directions in support

of the smart grid road map.
Policy Direction

Implementation Plan

Support for technological R&D and industrialization

To implement comprehensive and cohesive technological R&D,

straddling technological development, standardization, and
commercialization.
To create new growth engines by invigorating the domestic market
and supporting Korean businesses advancement into overseas
markets.

Promotion of successful models

Forestall the creation of successful models by implementing the Jeju

Smart Grid Complex and carry out step-wise dissemination.
Provide incentives for companies to invest and for people to
participate spontaneously.

Building infrastructure

Offer aggressive incentive programs at the earlier stages to ensure

early infrastructure establishment.
Establish standardization and certification bases to ensure
advancement into overseas markets and nurture specialists in related
fields.
Build a security system/program to ensure the establishment and
operation of a safe smart grid.

Establishment of legal and regulatory frameworks

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IEEE power & energy magazine

To ensure the promotion of the new industry through conversion

and integration between related industries, carry out the proactive
amendment of related laws and regulations and complementary
regulatory programs from the early stages of market formation.
Enact and implement the Special Act on the Establishment of and
Support for Smart Power Grid (tentative title) to ensure the stable
implementation of long-term projects.
january/february 2011

Korea and the U.S. state of Illinois

have agreed to collaborate in a smart grid
and green-technology initiative.
early on. Smart metering and bilateral communication systems for all customers are expected to be installed no later
than 2020 by making these items part of mandatory regulations. In addition, a charging infrastructure will be established as quickly as possible to ensure that the promotion
and commercialization of electric vehicles is implemented
without delay.
Finally, to build and update a legal and regulatory framework, special legislation concerning the establishment of and
support for the smart grid will be prepared. To ensure the promotion of this new industry through a convergence of related
industries, the necessary amendment of relevant laws, regulations, and complementary regulatory programs will also be
carried out in the early stages of market formation. Moreover,
a real-time billing system will be built in a timely manner in
order to raise consumer awareness of power consumption and
savings. Policy measures aimed at ensuring a stable power supply in the light of smart grid technology deployment will also
be implemented.

The Jeju Smart Grid Test Bed

technologies and R&D results, as well as the development

of new business models. Jeju will also serve as the foundation for the commercialization and industrial export of
smart grid technologies. It is expected to contribute greatly
to strengthening Koreas position as a leader in the global
smart grid industry.
This project will be conducted with the participation
of the Korean government, the Korea Smart Grid Institute
(KSGI), Korea Electric Power Corporation, Jeju Province,
and the Korea Smart Grid Association. In addition, companies, other research institutes, and academic institutions
will be joining in the effort. A total of US$200 million will
be invested between 2009 and 2013, and 12 consortia in
five areasa total of 168 companieswill participate in
testing technologies and developing business models. The
three strategic directions stated in the vision and goals for
the Jeju initiative (see Figure 5) clearly reveal the greengrowth strategy embedded in this project. From the national
standpoint, it aims to raise energy efficiency and implement
green-energy infrastructure by building an ecofriendly
infrastructure that reduces CO2 emissions. From the industrial standpoint, it seeks to secure a new growth engine that
will drive Korea in the age of green growth. And from an

The most noticeable plan in Koreas smart grid initiatives is

the construction of a smart grid test bed on Jeju Island (see
Figure 4). The Korean government selected the self-governing
Jeju Province as the location
Total Number of EV Distributed
Quick-Charging Stations
for the smart grid test bed in
(Unit: 1,000, Cumulative)
(Unit: Number, Cumulative)
June 2009.
0.5
152
2,436
100
4,300
27,140
As a world leader in smart
grid technology, Korea established the Jeju smart grid test bed
2030
2012
2020
2012
2020
2030
at the same time it announced its
Renewable Energy Ratio
Household Electricity Energy
national road map for the smart
Self-Sufficiency Ratio
grid. The purpose of the test bed
Pilot Test
10%
30%
is to determine the best smart
3.1%
6.1%
11.0%
grid technologies and the most
viable business model. The test
2012
2020
2020
2030
2012
2030
bed should prove that the smart
Consumers Right to Choose
Market Participation Rate of Consumers
grid can become the basis for a
Their
Electricity
Rate
Plan
low-carbon, green-growth strategy. Therefore, this project dem15%
30%
onstrates Koreas aspirations in
2020
2030
Pilot Test
Choose an
Infrastructure
the area of green growth. The
2012
Electricity Plan
Building
Jeju test bed will become the
2020
2012
worlds largest smart grid community and will allow for testing figure 3. Key implementation targets for smart transportation, renewable energy,
of the most advanced smart grid and electricity service.
january/february 2011

IEEE power & energy magazine

45

Features:
Integrated Test Bed
Close Collaboration Between Public and Private Sectors
Verification of Different Power Market Models
Participants: Korea Electric Power Corporation(KEPCO) Plus Automakers,
Telecommunications Companies and Home Appliance Manufacturers
-Includes Major Companies Such as LG, SKT, KT, and Samsung
Open to Foreign Companies

figure 4. The Jeju smart grid test bed.

individual standpoint, it looks to enhance the quality of life

through the experience of and participation in a low-carbon,
green society. Moving forward, Korea plans to nurture the
smart grid as a new growth engine of the nation by ensuring
that the technologies and business models developed and
tested at Jeju are demonstrated and deployed not only on
the Korean peninsula but all over the world. In this way, the
most pressing concerns of our time, climate change and the
energy crisis, could be effectively alleviated.

The Jeju smart grid test bed includes all five areas of the
smart grid implementation from the national road map: a
smart power grid, smart buildings and homes, smart transportation, smart renewable energy, and smart electricity
service. For the test beds smart power grid, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and 21 participating
companies investing a total of US$30 million will develop
smart transmitter and automated protection and recovery

Commerciallzation and Industrial Export of Smart Grid Technology

Vision

Objective

Three
Strategic
Directions

Jejus Five Implementation Areas

Build Worlds Largest and Most Advanced Open Test Bed by 2012

National Standpoint

Industrial Standpoint

Individual Standpoint

Build Green Energy

Infrastructure

Secure New Driving

Forces for Growth

Introduce a Low-Carbon,
Green Lifestyle

Build Eco-Friendly Energy

Infrastructure, Which Improves
Energy Efficiency and Reduces
CO2 Emissions

Secure New Growth Engines that

will Drice the Countrys
Development in the Age of
Green Growth

Raise Quality of Life Through

Experiences of and Participation
in a Low-Carbon and Green Life

figure 5. Vision, goal, and strategic directions for the Jeju test bed.
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IEEE power & energy magazine

january/february 2011

technologies. In the smart buildings and homes (or smart

consumer) area, SK Telecom, KT, LG, KEPCO, and 101
participating companies investing a total of US$80 million will develop and standardize advanced metering infrastructure technologies and smart home and smart building technologies. KEPCO, SK Energy, GS Caltex, and
39 companies that participate in smart transportation will
spend US$40 million to develop electric vehicle parts and
charging stations, vehicle-to-grid and ICT systems, and
additional service models. In the smart renewable energy
area, KEPCO, Hyundai, Posco, and 37 companies investing
a total of US$35 million will develop coordination and stabilization technologies for renewable power with efficient
implementation across the power grid. Finally, Korea Power
Exchange, KEPCO, and six companies will spend US$15
million to develop real-time pricing, demand response, and
online consumer power-trading systems for smart electricity
service. Figure 6 provides an overview of the five Jeju test
bed areas and the implementation timetable.

Jeju Test Bed: Current Focus

Since Jeju was selected as the smart grid test bed in June 2009,
construction of a total operation center (TOC) for the test bed
has begun and will be finished in 2010. At the same time, legislationincluding the special act on support for the smart
gridwill be proposed in 2010 to begin building the basic
laws and regulations needed to secure long-term investment
funding and the provision of incentives. A variety of tests and
implementations of smart grid technologies in the Jeju smart
grid test bed will be carried out through 2013, when the project

is scheduled to be completed. As follow-ups to the Jeju project, smart grid pilot city projects and smart grid implementation projects in metropolitan areas will be developed by 2020,
followed by the nationwide smart grid implementation that
will be completed by 2030.
The Jeju smart grid test bed, which aims to become the
worlds first all-inclusive smart grid test bed location, consists of one PR center and four exhibition halls. Spearheaded
by Korean conglomerates including KEPCO, LG, KT, and
POSCO, the Jeju facility gives visitors an opportunity to
fully experience the wide array of prototypes available,
including smart meters, in-home displays, smart appliances, EV charging facilities, wind turbines, and photovoltaic equipment. Figure 7 shows the various installations that
make up the test bed.

International Collaborative Activities

In order to facilitate the successful implementation of its
smart grid technologies, the Korean government has moved
forward in the area of international collaborative activities. First, in June 2009, the Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) and the U.S. Department of Energy
(DOE) issued a joint statement of intent (SOI) in which they
agreed to collaborate closely on work in the green-energy
sector, including the smart grid. The agreement represents a
strong foundation for cooperation between the two nations
on issues relating to clean and green energy. In addition to
smart grid technology, the agreement covers carbon capture
and storage and nuclear, methane hydrate, and geothermal
generation. In addition, an investment forum on the smart

Five Areas of the Test Bed

Smart Power Grid
Build Smart Power Grid Infrastructure
Smart Place

Smart Transportation

Smart Renewable

Lay the Foundation for

Efficient Energy Use

Lay the Foundation for

Expanded Distribution of
Electric Vehicles

Manage Clean Energy Reliably

Smart Electricity Service

Provide New Electricity Services
Phase-by-Phase Implementation Plans
Phases

Period

Key Focus Areas

Basic Stage
(Infrastructure Building)

20102011

Smart Power Grid,

Smart Place, Smart Transportation

Expansion Stage
(Integrated Operation)

20122013

Smart Renewable,
Smart Electricity Service

Key Contents
Linking Grid Networks and
Consumers, Grid Networks,
and Electric Vehicles
Provide New Power Services
Accommodate Renewable Energy
Sources to the Power Grid

figure 6. Overview of Jeju smart grid test bed implementation.

january/february 2011

IEEE power & energy magazine

47

LG Live Green

POSCOs Smart Renewables

Experience Hall
Experience Smart Green Services
That are Based on Smart Home
Appliances and Smart Meters
Experience Green Life Where New
and Renewable Energy as Well as
Storage are Applied

PR Center

Comprehend Koreas SG Concepts

and the Jeju Smart Grid Test Bed

SK Smart Grid
Experience Hall

See a Demonstration and Experience

Home Energy Saving Services
Connected via EVs and Photovoltaics

Jeju Smart Grid Test Bed

KT/GS Caltex Smart Cafe

EV Riding and Charging Infrastructure Experience

See a Demonstration and

Experience Services that Integrate
Electric Power, Broadcasting, and
Telecommunications Services
EVs Are Placed Throughout the Test Bed to Provide Visitors
with EV Riding and Charging

figure 7. Jeju test bed PR center and exhibition halls.

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IEEE power & energy magazine

january/february 2011

grid, cosponsored by Korea Smart Grid Association (KSGA)

and GridWise Alliance (GWA), was held in Washington,
D.C., in June 2009. Both organizations signed a comprehensive memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding
industry-focused collaborations on smart grid technology
and its implementation.
Members of the Major Economies Forum on Energy
and Climate (MEF) sparked the second significant international collaborative effort on behalf of the smart grid. On 14
December 2009, the Korean government took part in establishing an official MEF smart grid road map during a United
Nations meeting in Copenhagen. Along with Italy, Korea
had been designated a leading smart grid country at the G-8
summit talks of July 2009, and the two nations then collaborated closely to complete an international road map for
the smart grid. The MEF smart grid road map was reviewed
by the MEF member nations, and the final road map was
announced in December 2009. The key contents of the MEF
road map indicate that global collaborations on smart grid
regulation and policy development are critical to the timely
deployment of smart grid technologies and business models
and are also necessary in order to effectively remove any
existing and potential barriers. The road map also emphasizes the importance of smart grid technical standards
development, human resource training and exchanges, and
cybersecurity and privacy. To follow up on the road map
and develop detailed collaboration agendas among member
nations, the establishment of a smart grid working group
under the aegis of the MEF has been proposed.
Finally, Korea and the U.S. state of Illinois have agreed to
collaborate in a smart grid and green-technology initiative.
In January 2010, Korea and Illinois signed an MOU regarding cooperation on smart grid and green technology development and deployment in the energy, economic development,
environmental, and related sectors. Both parties agreed to
foster cooperation in the field of smart grid and green technology development by taking actions to deploy and implement smart grid business models and technologies developed
and verified by both parties; by exploring opportunities for
joint research and industrial development collaboration; by
developing strategic industrial and technological networks or
collaborative councils in smart grid technology development
and standardization that capitalize on trends and opportunities of mutual interest; by exploring opportunities to address
the newly emerging markets that include, but are not limited
to, demand response, electric vehicles, energy management
systems, and advanced battery research; and by fostering
information, technology, and human resource exchanges
among government agencies, businesses, and research institutions. In order to realize this mutually declared commitment, a smart grid and green economy committee (SGGEC)
was established in March 2010 to direct and supervise the
cooperation. Concrete collaborative projects will be initiated
by the end of 2010 and will last for three years. Potential
projects include smart building, electric vehicle charging stajanuary/february 2011

tions, and workforce development. A successful collaboration is expected to support the entry of smart grid technology
into global smart grid markets and to create new investments
and new jobs in the smart grid arena.

Future Directions
Korea has been pursuing implementation of the smart grid
as one of its pioneering projects in the era of low-carbon
and green growth. From a domestic point of view, the smart
grid has been included in the five-year green-growth plan to
be implemented as a core national policy task. A national
road map for the smart grid has been established, an innovative smart grid test bed is being built, and the steps that
follow are supposed to be undertaken in a timely manner
to successfully implement a smart grid society in Korea.
In addition, several significant international activities have
been undertaken for the past few years, including an agreement on the smart grid with the DOE and GWA, smart grid
leadership at MEF and the establishment of an MEF smart
grid road map in collaboration with Italy, and cooperation
on global development and deployment of smart grid technology and business models with Illinois.
In 2010 and 2011, with the goal of early penetration and
adoption of the smart grid, the following tasks are to be initiated or completed:
enactment of special legislation on the establishment
of and support for the smart grid
construction of a smart PR center and exhibition halls
installation of a substantial amount of smart grid infrastructure
diffusion of pilot smart grid equipment
selection of smart grid demonstration cities
development of the Korea-Illinois project
standardization of smart grid technology.
From now on, Korea will be moving forward with concrete
steps toward smart grid development. In terms of policy and
practices, key future directions for the sustainable implementation of a smart grid in Korea include support for development and standardization of core technologies, expansion of
successful business models, establishment of the necessary
infrastructure, and development of a legal and institutional
framework.

For Further Reading

Ministry of Knowledge Economy, National smart grid
roadmap, Korea, Jan. 2010.
Korea Smart Grid Institute [Online]. Available: www.
smartgrid.or.kr
Ministry of Knowledge Economy and Korea Smart Grid Institute, Brochure on the Jeju smart grid test-bed, Feb. 2010.

Biographies
Jinho Kim is with Kyungwon University, Republic of Korea.
Hong-Il Park with the Korean Ministry of Knowledge
p&e
Economy.
IEEE power & energy magazine

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