South Korea has announced that beginning in 2027, all international flights departing from its airports must use jet fuel blended with at least 1 % sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The policy, part of the nation’s “SAF Expansion Strategy,” was introduced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport alongside the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to curb carbon emissions and strengthen the country’s position as a leader in low-carbon fuel technology. Authorities say the plan aligns South Korea with global efforts to decarbonize air travel while opening opportunities for domestic refiners to become major SAF suppliers.
Under the government’s roadmap, the SAF blending ratio will increase to 3–5 % by 2030 and 7–10 % by 2035. Starting in 2028, at least 90 % of jet fuel for international flights will also need to be refueled at South Korean airports using compliant blends. To encourage adoption, Seoul will offer tax breaks and operational incentives to airlines and fuel producers investing in SAF production. The initiative marks one of Asia’s most ambitious national mandates for sustainable aviation fuel and aims to make air transport greener without compromising competitiveness. More