South Korea energy mix & electricity
In 2025, South Korea generated 625 TWh of electricity. It is a notably diversified system: no single source supplies more than 31%, with coal (31.1%), nuclear power (29.6%) and natural gas (27.9%) all playing major roles.
Electricity generation by source in 2025
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coal | 195 | 31.1% | −11.3 |
| Nuclear | 185 | 29.6% | −0.5 |
| Gas | 175 | 27.9% | +5.7 |
| Solar | 37.8 | 6.1% | +5.3 |
| Bioenergy | 19.69 | 3.2% | +1.8 |
| Oil | 5.95 | 1% | −1.4 |
| Hydro | 3.8 | 0.6% | +0.2 |
| Wind | 3.64 | 0.6% | +0.3 |
| Total | 625 | 100% |
South Korea: electricity in context
In 2025, South Korea generated 625 TWh of electricity. That is about 2% of the world total, similar to Canada. It is a notably diversified system: no single source supplies more than 31%, with coal (31.1%), nuclear power (29.6%) and natural gas (27.9%) all playing major roles.
10.4% of the country’s power came from renewable sources: 130th of 158 countries (in the bottom quarter). This puts it 23 points below the world average of 33.8%. It is also below the average for Asia (27.3%). Because nuclear contributes another 29.6%, the low-carbon share is considerably higher, at 40%. Generating one kWh emits about 417 g CO₂e here (world average: 458 g). That makes the grid somewhat cleaner than the world average. On carbon intensity, South Korea ranks 81st of 158 from the cleanest.
Since 2015, the fastest-growing source has been natural gas: its output rose by 52.6 TWh, lifting its share by 5.7 percentage points. Coal moved the other way, falling by 38.2 TWh. Taken together, the renewable share rose by 7.6 percentage points over the decade. Total generation grew by 76.9 TWh over the same period. Carbon intensity dropped from 488 to 417 g/kWh, a 14% cut.
Coal is in clear retreat: its share fell from 42.5% in 2015 to 31.1% in 2025, after peaking at 46.3% back in 2009. In absolute terms, coal generation peaked in 2017 at 261 TWh and has since fallen 25%.
Wind and solar together provided 6.6% of electricity (solar 6.1%, wind 0.6%), compared with 17.3% worldwide. Per person, that is 732 kWh of solar electricity a year, 2.2× the global average. In solar electricity per person, South Korea ranks 25th in the world. Wind adds 70 kWh per person. Solar first passed 1% of the mix in 2017.
South Korea generates 12,090 kWh of electricity per resident each year, 3.1 times the global average. South Korea does not trade electricity with other countries: the grid is not interconnected with any neighbour.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 1985. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
South Korea against the world and Asia averages.
Total energy: beyond electricity
Primary energy covers transport, heating and industry too. Renewables supply 4.7% of primary energy and fossil fuels 82.5% (2024). Per person, that is 69,922 kWh a year (world: 21,654).
Substitution method: non-fossil electricity is converted to the primary energy a fossil plant would have needed.
Domestic extraction of coal, gas and oil, in energy terms.
Power plants in South Korea
The WRI Global Power Plant Database lists 132 utility-scale plants in South Korea with a combined capacity of 99.5 GW. Coal plants account for the largest slice (33% of listed capacity). The biggest single plant is Hanbit (5,900 MW, Nuclear). The database was last updated in 2021, so newer wind and solar farms and rooftop PV are under-represented.
Largest power plants
| # | Plant | Fuel | Capacity MW | Commissioned | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hanbit | Nuclear | 5,900 | — | Korea Hydro and Nuclear |
| 2 | Hanul | Nuclear | 5,900 | — | Korea Hydro and Nuclear |
| 3 | Yeongheung | Coal | 5,080 | — | Korea South East Power (KOSEP) |
| 4 | Boryeong (poryang) | Coal | 4,000 | — | Korea Midland Power (KOMIPO) |
| 5 | Dangjin | Coal | 4,000 | — | Korea East West Power |
| 6 | Hadong | Coal | 4,000 | — | Korea Southern Power |
| 7 | Taean | Coal | 4,000 | — | Korea Western Power |
| 8 | Shin-Kori | Nuclear | 3,340 | — | Korea Hydro and Nuclear |
| 9 | Samcheonpo | Coal | 3,240 | — | Korea South East Power (KOSEP) |
| 10 | Kori | Nuclear | 3,137 | — | Korea Hydro and Nuclear |
| 11 | Incheon | Gas | 3,052 | 2015 | Korea Midland Power (KOMIPO) |
| 12 | Ulsan | Oil | 3,000 | — | Korea East West Power |
| 13 | Wolsong | Nuclear | 2,799 | — | Korea Hydro and Nuclear |
| 14 | Samcheok Green power station | Coal | 2,044 | 2016 | Korea Southern Power |
| 15 | Shin Boryeong power station | Coal | 2,000 | 2017 | Korea Midland Power |
Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 132 plants on the interactive power plant map.
Solar & wind farms: South Korea
3,335 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 11.4 GW of solar and 1.5 GW of wind operating, plus 53.3 GW under construction or planned.
See them on the mapLargest solar & wind farms: South Korea →
How does South Korea compare?
South Korea next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | 10.4% | 40% | 60% | 417 | 12,090 | 625 | — | |
| North Korea | 63.4% | 63.4% | 36.6% | 341 | 1,023 | 27.1 | Compare | |
| Japan | 23.6% | 32.7% | 67.3% | 477 | 8,366 | 1,030 | Compare | |
| Taiwan | 12.2% | 13.4% | 86.6% | 633 | 12,478 | 288 | Compare | |
| China | 37% | 41.7% | 58.3% | 525 | 7,474 | 10,583 | Compare | |
| Hong Kong | 1% | 1% | 99% | 675 | 5,049 | 37.4 | Compare | |
| Mongolia | 8.4% | 8.4% | 91.6% | 816 | 2,755 | 9.7 | Compare | |
| Asia average | 27.3% | 32.1% | 67.9% | 573 | 3,749 | 18,015 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for South Korea
South Korea energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in South Korea is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in South Korea?
How clean is the electricity in South Korea?
Does South Korea use nuclear power?
How much electricity does South Korea use per person?
How much solar power does South Korea produce?
More countries in Asia
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2025. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.