Cheong Wa Dae says talks with Birol to cover energy security and climate response in the electrification era
Meeting follows Lee's proposal at G7 summit; global coordination on strategic oil releases also on agenda
President Lee Jae Myung will meet with International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol at Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday afternoon to discuss ways to strengthen energy supply chain resilience in the Asia-Pacific region amid intensifying global energy and climate crises.
Cheong Wa Dae said in a press release that Lee will sit down with Birol at 2 p.m. to exchange views on international energy market trends and ways to bolster energy security. The meeting was arranged to follow up on a proposal Lee made at the Group of Seven summit in June to advance cooperation on Asia-Pacific energy supply chain resilience.
Birol has led global efforts to address energy crises, coordinating the joint release of 400 million barrels of strategic petroleum reserves among IEA member states in response to the war in the Middle East. He has maintained close cooperation with the South Korean government on energy security and climate change, and the two sides have continued to deepen ties — including co-hosting an international climate industry expo since 2024.
Lee and Birol are expected to focus their discussions on global energy market and industry trends and on ways to strengthen energy security in the electrification era, against the backdrop of worsening crises including the recent situation in the Middle East and large-scale flooding in Nepal. They are also expected to hold in-depth exchanges on new directions for energy security cooperation centered on the Asia-Pacific region.
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