Environment ministry installs first heat pump for heating electrification in Jeju

The environment ministry said Friday it has installed the first household heat pump under its new heating electrification support program, an initial step to replace fossil fuel boilers with high-efficiency electric systems. Vice Minister Lee Ho-hyun attended a plaque unveiling ceremony at a home in Yeongpyeong-dong, Jeju City, on July 31 to celebrate the milestone.

Governor Woon Gon-kwon of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and officials from Korea Electric Power Corp., Korea Electrical Safety Corp., and LG Electronics attended the event. The ministry launched the project this year with approximately 14.5 billion won in national funding to support single-family homes in warm regions like Jeju in switching from kerosene or liquefied petroleum gas boilers.

Lee later visited a demonstration site in Donam-dong, Jeju City, to examine an integrated heat pump manufactured by Samsung Electronics. These units utilize external air heat to provide cooling, heating, and hot water through a single facility. During the visit, the vice minister inspected the equipment's operation and discussed power expansion needs and safety checks with utility representatives.

The ministry plans to use these field demonstrations to verify application conditions by housing type and product form, establishing a foundation for broader heat pump adoption.

Minister Kim Sung-hwan said the government will accelerate heat pump adoption starting in 2026 to strengthen the domestic market and help local companies gain global competitiveness. He added that authorities will also support industrial transition measures to ensure workers in the traditional heating sector are not left behind during the shift.