Mandate Structure
South Korea has published a clear timeline that begins with a one percent sustainable aviation fuel blend in twenty twenty seven and rises as high as ten percent by twenty thirty five. Importantly, each target will be finalised two years before activation, allowing producers and airlines to plan with confidence.
Smart Flexibility
The mandate is tied to domestic SAF availability rather than fixed volumes. That dynamic approach prevents cost spikes while still sending a strong long term market signal. A clever, less obvious insight is that this formula may also stabilise regional feedstock prices because refiners can synchronise purchases with confirmed local demand instead of speculative exports.
Incentives Drive Investment
The package includes:
· Up to twenty five percent corporate tax credit on plant construction.
· Forty percent credit on research and development spending for new feedstock pathways.
· Deferred compliance on twenty percent of the required volume for three years in case of supply disruptions.
These measures lower capital risk and give innovators room to perfect advanced routes such as power to liquid synthesis and algae based oils.
Airline Advantages
Carriers that surpass quota earn three point five bonus points when bidding for new international routes. For network planners those points can mean early access to premium slots on trans Pacific hubs, converting environmental leadership into revenue.
Domestic Benefits
By mandating that ninety percent of departing international flights refuel locally, the scheme locks in demand that can sustain multiple commercial scale SAF plants, create thousands of construction jobs, and reduce dependence on imported kerosene. Energy security and export potential therefore grow together.
Conclusion
The Korean roadmap balances ambition with pragmatism. Flexible targets, generous incentives, and strategic route rewards position the nation to become an influential supplier of sustainable jet fuel while supporting airlines and taxpayers alike.