Global GridSouth Korea's energy mix and electricity
🇰🇷 In 2025, South Korea generated 625 TWh of electricity. The largest source was coal at 31%, followed by nuclear (30%) and gas (28%). In total, 40% came from low-carbon sources (nuclear and renewables) and 60% from fossil fuels.
On average, each kilowatt hour produced about 417 grams of carbon dioxide (CO₂), close to the world average of 458 grams in 2025. That makes South Korea the 81st cleanest of 158 countries that generate at least 1 TWh a year.
Electricity demand was 625 TWh. Its electricity imports and exports were roughly in balance.
Since 2000, electricity generation has grown by 116%, from 290 TWh. The low-carbon share went from 39% to 41%. The biggest rise was in gas, from 10% to 28% of generation. The biggest fall was in oil and other fossil fuels, from 11% to 1%. Carbon intensity fell from 462 to 417 grams per kWh.
Live, hour-by-hour figures for South Korea are not connected yet. The dashboard shows its yearly figures, energy mix since 2000 and interconnector trade.
Energy mix in 2025
- Coal 31%
- Nuclear 30%
- Gas 28%
- Solar 6.1%
- Bioenergy 3.2%
- Oil and other fossil fuels 1%
- Wind 0.6%
- Hydro 0.6%
| Source | Share | Generated |
|---|---|---|
| Coal | 31% | 194 TWh |
| Nuclear | 30% | 185 TWh |
| Gas | 28% | 174 TWh |
| Solar | 6.1% | 38.1 TWh |
| Bioenergy | 3.2% | 20.0 TWh |
| Oil and other fossil fuels | 1% | 6.25 TWh |
| Wind | 0.6% | 3.75 TWh |
| Hydro | 0.6% | 3.75 TWh |
Total energy mix in 2024
Electricity is only part of the energy South Korea uses: fuel for transport, heating and industry counts too. In 2024, South Korea used 3,620 TWh of energy in all (primary energy). The largest source was oil at 43%, followed by coal (22%) and gas (18%). Fossil fuels made up 83% and low-carbon sources (nuclear and renewables) 18%.
- Oil 43%
- Coal 22%
- Gas 18%
- Nuclear 13%
- Solar 2.2%
- Other renewables 1.8%
- Hydro 0.3%
- Wind 0.2%
- Biofuels 0.2%
| Source | Share of all energy |
|---|---|
| Oil | 43% |
| Coal | 22% |
| Gas | 18% |
| Nuclear | 13% |
| Solar | 2.2% |
| Other renewables | 1.8% |
| Hydro | 0.3% |
| Wind | 0.2% |
| Biofuels | 0.2% |
Primary energy, with nuclear and renewable electricity counted as the fuel a power station would need to make it (the "substitution method"). Here "other renewables" is the Energy Institute's "geothermal, biomass and other" power generation, and biofuels are liquid fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. Source: Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0).
Energy security score
Moderate. South Korea ranks 98th of 158 countries and 26th of 46 in Asia. The score shows how well a country could keep electricity affordable and on if fuel supplies were disrupted.
| Measure | Score |
|---|---|
| Produces its own energy In 2024, South Korea produced energy equal to 18% of all the energy it used (100% or more scores full marks). | 18 |
| Variety of power sources How evenly generation is spread across nine sources. The largest, coal, made 31%. | 82 |
| Little reliance on imported power South Korea exported more electricity than it imported, so it scores full marks. | 100 |
| Low-carbon power Nuclear and renewables made 40% of generation. | 40 |
| Low gas and oil use Gas and oil made 29% of generation; the score is 100 minus that share. | 71 |
The five measures are weighted 30%, 20%, 20%, 15% and 15%. How the score works.
Oil and gas pipelines
For liquefied natural gas (LNG), shipped by sea, it lists 9 import terminals operating (6 more being built or proposed).
See them on the interactive map · Pipelines around the world
How it has changed
| Year | Generated | Low-carbon | Fossil | CO₂ g/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 290 TWh | 39% | 61% | 462 |
| 2005 | 389 TWh | 39% | 62% | 450 |
| 2010 | 495 TWh | 31% | 69% | 500 |
| 2015 | 548 TWh | 32% | 67% | 488 |
| 2020 | 577 TWh | 35% | 65% | 458 |
| 2024 | 625 TWh | 40% | 61% | 416 |
| 2025 | 625 TWh | 41% | 60% | 417 |
Questions about South Korea's energy
What is South Korea's energy mix?
In 2025, South Korea's electricity came from coal 31%, nuclear 30%, gas 28% and solar 6.1%. Counting all the energy it uses, including fuel for transport and heating, the mix in 2024 was oil 43%, coal 22%, gas 18% and nuclear 13%.
How much of South Korea's electricity is renewable?
11% of its electricity came from renewables in 2025 (solar 6.1%, bioenergy 3.2%, wind 0.6% and hydro 0.6%). Including nuclear power, 40% of its electricity was low-carbon.
What is South Korea's main source of electricity?
Coal, which made 31% of its electricity in 2025.
How clean is South Korea's electricity?
About 417 grams of CO₂ for each kilowatt hour in 2025, close to the world average of 458 grams. It ranks 81st cleanest of 158 countries that generate at least 1 TWh a year.
Does South Korea import electricity?
Its imports and exports were roughly in balance in 2025.
How secure is South Korea's energy supply?
Global Grid's energy security score for South Korea is 59 out of 100 (moderate), 98th of 158 countries. It looks at how much of its own energy it produces, how varied its power sources are, its reliance on imported power and its use of low-carbon power, gas and oil.
Other countries in Asia
Sources: Ember yearly electricity data (CC BY 4.0), figures up to 2025; energy production and use by source from the Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0), 2024; pipelines and LNG terminals from Global Energy Monitor's Global Oil Infrastructure Tracker (June 2026 release) and Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker (November 2025 release) (CC BY 4.0). Ember's latest-year figures are first estimates and may be revised. TWh: terawatt hours (one billion kWh).