Part 1. Vocabulary
conglomerates / kən-ˈgläm-rət / n.
- a widely diversified corporation
Major conglomerates agreed to cooperate.
summit / sə-mət / n.
- a conference of highest-level officials
"a business summit"
-prior / prī (-ə) r / adj.
- earlier in time or order
Prior COVID-19 infection does not fully protect people, it is advisable to get vaccinated.
boost / bo͞ost / v.
- help or encourage (something) to increase or improve:
"a range of measures to boost tourism"
neutrality / n (y) o͞oˈtralədē / n.
- the state of not supporting or helping either side in a conflict, disagreement, etc .;
"during the war, Switzerland maintained its neutrality"Part 2. Comprehension Questions
What did the major conglomerate agree to cooperate with?
What is the aim of the "hydrogen committee" created at the summit?
What is the combined 43.3 trillion investment?
Why is it important for the private sector to come together to energize the "hydrogen economy"?
Who initiated the hydrogen committee?
Part 3. Article Reading
A "hydrogen committee" created at the summit will be in charge of helping local firms enter the global hydrogen market, strengthening cooperation between member companies in the sector, hosting global events to attract foreign investment, and jointly signing partnerships with foreign hydrogen technology firms.
The H2 Business Summit was participated in by 15 conglomerates, including Hyundai Motor Group, SK, POSCO, Lotte Group, Hanwha, and Hyosung with the firms laying the foundation for the committee.
Prior to this, they had promised to invest a combined 43.4 trillion won by 2030 to establish facilities for hydrogen production, distribution, storage, and utilization.
"We are latecomers in establishing a balanced hydrogen industry ecosystem compared to advanced countries. We are capable and have confidence as local conglomerates have global competitiveness in all industrial sectors," Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun said.
"We hope the Korea H2 Business Summit will not only boost individual companies' competitiveness but also get policymakers and the financial sector to move as one to complete a hydrogen industry ecosystem for the development of the local hydrogen economy."
POSCO Group Chairman Choi Jeong-woo emphasized the importance of the private sector coming together to energize the "hydrogen economy," vowing that his company will take a leading role in the country's carbon neutrality efforts.
"Steel emits the lowest amount of CO2 compared to other metal materials, but the production capacity is overwhelmingly higher than other industries inevitably emitting larger amounts of CO2 annually," Choi said. "As part of POSCO's efforts to lead the country's carbon neutrality goals, we will commercialize the use of hydrogen to reduce iron ore in the manufacturing process "without melting it, thereby emitting less CO2."