Public preference toward an energy transition policy: the case of South Korea

South Korea is pursuing an energy transition policy (ETP) of expanding the use of renewable energy and natural gas and decreasing that of nuclear energy and coal in total generation. An investigation of whether the public is for or against the ETP is needed by the government. This article explores the public preference toward the ETP employing the data collected through a survey of 1000 individuals. They were asked to reveal their preference for the ETP on a five-point scale in the survey. Overall, there are more advocates of the ETP than those who opposed it. For the purpose of analyzing the determinants of advocacy and opposition of the ETP, an ordered probit model is employed. The results suggest that people living in the Seoul Metropolitan area think that the environment is more important than new jobs, or know the renewable energy 100% campaign before the survey is more favorable to the ETP than others. However, people who use electricity for heating tend to be negative about the ETP. As the age increases, people approve of the ETP, but when age goes beyond a certain level, they oppose it.