Home to world-class manufacturing & public transit, cutting edge tech—why Korea is a country to watch in the drive to zero

DAEJEON, South Korea—With a GDP of $1.71+ trillion, a tech-savvy population, and an enviable public transit system, the Republic of Korea is well-positioned to lead in the global drive to zero. An innovative manufacturer of automobiles, electronics, telecommunications, steel, and more, the country’s manufacturing output is among the world’s highest.

Taking yet another step toward global leadership, KEVA, the Korea Electric Vehicle Association, has just signed the Global Memorandum of Understanding on Zero-Emission Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles (Global MOU). KEVA, affiliated with the country’s Ministry of Environment, counts domestic and foreign electric vehicle manufacturers, battery manufacturers, electric vehicle charger manufacturers and services, and electric vehicle-related parts manufacturers as member companies. Members include prominent global companies like Hyundai, Samsung, LG, and SK, among others.

Co-led by the Government of Colombia and CALSTART’s Drive to Zero with the goal of advancing zero-emission freight, the Global MOU calls for 100% new zero-emission truck sales by 2040 and at least 30% new zero-emission truck and bus sales by 2030. Currently there are 40 national signatories and more than 250 subnational government and private sector innovators in the Global MOU community. Global MOU countries represent one-in-five trucks globally. Endorsing companies, organizations, and subnational governments represent more than $1.3 trillion in annual revenues.

Minha Lee, a representative of KEVA notes the importance of global cooperation and coordination in order to decarbonize global freight, “As a member of the global community, I would like to participate in cooperation with global companies and related organizations and participate as a member of various programs.” Lee also recognizes the importance of prioritizing the decarbonization of trucks and buses in particular saying, “Since the carbon dioxide emission from buses and trucks is large and has a public nature, I think it is necessary to supply eco-friendly electric vehicles to buses and medium and large trucks first.”

“KEVA is the first organization in the Republic of Korea to endorse the Global MOU. We thank KEVA for its leadership and its commitment to working with the public and private sector innovators that are collaboratively accelerating the shift to sustainable freight,” said Kodish.

“South Korea has committed to convert 100 percent of public transit buses to zero-emission by 2030. The government is investing heavily in hydrogen and electric charging infrastructure, with national roadmaps targeting more than 500 hydrogen refueling stations and tens of thousands of EV chargers by the end of the decade. We look forward to learning from and collaborating with our new partners at KEVA and hope to gain new partners in Korea.

Kodish, and global transportation leaders including national ministers are gathering in Busan in August of 2025 for the Clean Energy Ministerial 16 and Mission Innovation Innovation 10 meeting (CEM16/MI-10). This year, CEM16/MI-10 will be conducted in conjunction with the APEC Energy Ministerial meeting and World Climate Industry Expo in Korea.

CALSTART’s Drive to Zero in partnership with the Electric Vehicle Initiative and the Clean Energy Ministerial, International Energy Agency, International Transport Forum, International Solar Alliance and Rocky Mountain Institute is leading a high-level panel “Accelerating Decarbonization: Transforming Energy and Transport Systems Globally.” The event will feature Mr. Junhong Park, Director of The National Institute of Environmental Research for the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Environment as well as experts from the International Energy Agency, International Transport Forum, International Solar Alliance, Windrose Technology, and Rocky Mountain Institute. Learn more here.

The accelerating zero-emission truck and bus industry in Korea represents a growing global trend as businesses around the world now recognize the “quadruple A” proposition of zero-emission trucks and buses: They are Advanced, Affordable, Available and Adopted:

• Advanced: ZE-MDHVs on the market are state-of-the-art. They are designed to reduce pollution, fuel costs, and vulnerability to global shocks such as extreme weather events, energy price spikes, and major power outages. They are operationally superior to diesel trucks and buses offering a smoother and quieter ride as well as advanced safety features, and lower fuel and maintenance costs.
• Affordable: By 2030-2035, the vast majority of ZE-MHDVs will be cheaper to own and operate than traditional MDHV models.
• Available: Today, there are nearly 960 ZE-MHDV models on the market globally, a nearly 50% increase from 2021 when 570 models were available. To see how countries are growing their zero-emission model availability, explore Drive to Zero’s Zero-Emission Technology Inventory (ZETI) Data Explorer.
• Adopted: In 2024, more than 250,000 ZE-MHDVs were sold around the world, with China responsible for the lion’s share (230,000+) followed by the U.S. (22,000+ ZETs).

Charging Up Change features the stories of the people and companies that are changing global transportation for good. The series is brought to you by CALSTART’s Drive to Zero program. Drive to Zero, in partnership with the government of Colombia, co-leads an ambitious community of 40 countries and more than 250 private sector and subnational endorsers that support reaching 100% new zero-emission truck and bus sales by the year 2040. Companies and subnational governments looking to accelerate innovation, grow jobs as well as economic and energy security are invited to endorse the Global MOU today!

Read more about the real people and companies who are “Charging Up Change” here.