The “Practical Climate & Energy Policy Development Seminar for the 2026 Local Elections”, co-hosted by the Energy Transition Forum and the Environmental Planning Institute of Seoul National University, was successfully held over four sessions from February 3 (Tue) to February 9 (Mon), 2026.
The seminar was organized in preparation for the 9th Nationwide Local Elections scheduled for June 3, 2026. It aimed to support prospective candidates for metropolitan and local councils, as well as campaign staff, in designing effective and locally tailored climate and energy policy pledges. The program was conducted in a hybrid format, combining both online and offline participation.
Field-Oriented Curriculum and Actionable Policy Cases
Each session focused on practical, ready-to-implement policy themes that could be executed immediately upon election. Leading experts in Korea’s climate and energy sector delivered in-depth lectures.
In particular, the seminar highlighted concrete policy models designed to improve residents’ quality of life and increase local income through climate and energy initiatives.
Key Climate & Energy Policy Proposals Discussed
1. Voter-Tailored “Energy Dividend” Models (Solar & Wind Pensions)
• Monthly lifetime pension payments for seniors
• Solar child allowances and scholarships for parents
• Dual-income models for farmers and fishers combining agricultural/fishing income with renewable energy revenue
Region-specific design models included:
• Coastal areas: Offshore wind pensions + fishery compensation
• Rural areas: Farmer pensions + support for returning-to-farm programs
• Urban areas: Public building citizen funds + community dividends
2. Agrivoltaics for Farmer Income Growth and Rural Revitalization
• Annual gross income of KRW 20 million per farmer (KRW 9 million net profit) while maintaining agricultural production
• Attracting young farmers and establishing agricultural self-reliance by linking agrivoltaics with farmland acquisition
3. Job Creation and Regional Economic Revitalization (Industrialization of Energy Transition)
• Attracting global RE100 companies (e.g., Samsung, SK) to create local youth jobs in maintenance and safety management
• Expanding local tax revenues through corporate tax growth
• A one-year implementation roadmap: from establishing an Energy Dividend Task Force to proposing profit-sharing ordinances and designating special energy zones
4. Institutional Reform and Regulatory Rationalization
• Repeal of restrictive setback-distance ordinances that hinder solar investment (while maintaining safety and environmental standards)
• Detailed policy preparation aligned with the mandatory installation of solar facilities in public parking lots (effective November 2025)
• Designation of distributed energy special zones
(Examples of Practical Policy Pledges Presented by the Speakers)
High Participation and Satisfaction
Including 195 pre-registrants, the seminar recorded a cumulative total attendance of 231 participants across four sessions. The audience included incumbent local council members as well as participants from diverse backgrounds. A significant proportion of attendees were general citizens.
Based on 222 survey responses (cumulative), 91% reported satisfaction with the lectures, and 91% stated that the seminar significantly enhanced their understanding of climate and energy policy. Regarding difficulty level, 84% responded that the content was “slightly easy” or “appropriate.”
Many participants particularly appreciated the “concrete, case-based explanations,” noting that they were highly beneficial for developing practical campaign pledges.
The Energy Transition Forum will continue its efforts to ensure that the voices of climate voters are meaningfully reflected in local politics and policymaking through sustained support and collaborative initiatives.
The “Practical Climate & Energy Policy Development Seminar for the 2026 Local Elections”, co-hosted by the Energy Transition Forum and the Environmental Planning Institute of Seoul National University, was successfully held over four sessions from February 3 (Tue) to February 9 (Mon), 2026.
The seminar was organized in preparation for the 9th Nationwide Local Elections scheduled for June 3, 2026. It aimed to support prospective candidates for metropolitan and local councils, as well as campaign staff, in designing effective and locally tailored climate and energy policy pledges. The program was conducted in a hybrid format, combining both online and offline participation.
Field-Oriented Curriculum and Actionable Policy Cases
Each session focused on practical, ready-to-implement policy themes that could be executed immediately upon election. Leading experts in Korea’s climate and energy sector delivered in-depth lectures.
In particular, the seminar highlighted concrete policy models designed to improve residents’ quality of life and increase local income through climate and energy initiatives.
Key Climate & Energy Policy Proposals Discussed
1. Voter-Tailored “Energy Dividend” Models (Solar & Wind Pensions)
• Monthly lifetime pension payments for seniors
• Solar child allowances and scholarships for parents
• Dual-income models for farmers and fishers combining agricultural/fishing income with renewable energy revenue
Region-specific design models included:
• Coastal areas: Offshore wind pensions + fishery compensation
• Rural areas: Farmer pensions + support for returning-to-farm programs
• Urban areas: Public building citizen funds + community dividends
2. Agrivoltaics for Farmer Income Growth and Rural Revitalization
• Annual gross income of KRW 20 million per farmer (KRW 9 million net profit) while maintaining agricultural production
• Attracting young farmers and establishing agricultural self-reliance by linking agrivoltaics with farmland acquisition
3. Job Creation and Regional Economic Revitalization (Industrialization of Energy Transition)
• Attracting global RE100 companies (e.g., Samsung, SK) to create local youth jobs in maintenance and safety management
• Expanding local tax revenues through corporate tax growth
• A one-year implementation roadmap: from establishing an Energy Dividend Task Force to proposing profit-sharing ordinances and designating special energy zones
4. Institutional Reform and Regulatory Rationalization
• Repeal of restrictive setback-distance ordinances that hinder solar investment (while maintaining safety and environmental standards)
• Detailed policy preparation aligned with the mandatory installation of solar facilities in public parking lots (effective November 2025)
• Designation of distributed energy special zones
(Examples of Practical Policy Pledges Presented by the Speakers)
High Participation and Satisfaction
Including 195 pre-registrants, the seminar recorded a cumulative total attendance of 231 participants across four sessions. The audience included incumbent local council members as well as participants from diverse backgrounds. A significant proportion of attendees were general citizens.
Based on 222 survey responses (cumulative), 91% reported satisfaction with the lectures, and 91% stated that the seminar significantly enhanced their understanding of climate and energy policy. Regarding difficulty level, 84% responded that the content was “slightly easy” or “appropriate.”
Many participants particularly appreciated the “concrete, case-based explanations,” noting that they were highly beneficial for developing practical campaign pledges.
The Energy Transition Forum will continue its efforts to ensure that the voices of climate voters are meaningfully reflected in local politics and policymaking through sustained support and collaborative initiatives.