The high-tech hub aims to achieve a 20% recycling rate for 10 key raw materials by 2030.
South Korea is ramping up critical mineral recycling as part of a broader strategy to stabilize supply chains, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy announced on Tuesday. Under the “Key Mineral Recycling Activation Promotion Plan,” the country aims to achieve a 20% recycling rate for 10 strategic minerals essential to the EV, battery, and semiconductor industries. To reach this goal, the government plans to establish more industry clusters, expand infrastructure, and streamline regulations. In addition, a tracking system for used batteries and a database for the recycling raw material supply chain are planned.
Beyond mineral recycling, the government also plans to expand public stockpiles of automotive urea, diversify import sources, and enhance supply chain financing to fortify economic security.
New Sources of Supply for High-Tech Sectors
While South Korea already has some recycling capacity, it remains underdeveloped, according to the ministry, presenting an opportunity to bolster domestic supply for its high-tech sectors. While the ministry only referred to lithium, nickel, and cobalt in the statement, it holds a broader list of 33 critical minerals vital to its high-tech industries. Ten of these are designated as strategic, besides the three named in the release, this includes manganese, graphite, and five rare earth elements—such as neodymium and terbium, which are crucial for producing permanent magnets.
Recycling is emerging as a key solution for securing critical minerals, reducing trade dependencies, and strengthening supply chains. For example, the European Union has set similar targets to South Korea under its Critical Raw Materials Act, aiming to source 25% of its strategic raw materials from domestic recycling by 2030.
Photo: iStock/Jae Young Ju