In recent the Republic of Korea formulated its national energy policy stance of phasing out nuclear and coal power whilst emphasizing the expansion of renewables through the transition to decentralized energy system. The Jeju province in Korea has been promoting self-energy system utilizing local rich natural resource such as wind and proposed an ambitious target to replace 100% of the power supply in Jeju Island with renewable energy through increasing residents’ participation in the local energy business and boosting related local industry. Based on policy overviews and interviews with core stakeholders in Jeju province, this study aims to identify the characteristics of the policy and strategies of renewable energy promotion at a local level and further discusses the current challenges and barriers.

The initial projects of renewable energy in Jeju island have revealed several problems and issues in policy implementation and related business operation such as monopoly business by large corporations, outflow of profits, unfair utilization of natural resources, conflict between winner and looser groups in wind business among local residents, damage to the natural environment, and inexperienced administration in the proceedings process. However, as notable characteristics in promoting wind power business in Jeju are that, from the early lessons and experiences, it accepted the concept of publicization of wind resources institutionally and took measures to transfer the benefits generated by the power generation project to the local community and to ensure local industries to participate in the wind power projects

The policy implications derived in this study can be drawn for public policies and initiatives in the future and applied for other regions in Korea in promoting the local-based energy transition.