From August 2025 through July 2026, fossil fuels supplied about 62% of South Korea’s electricity, while low-carbon sources provided roughly 36%. Coal accounted for about a third of electricity consumption and gas for just over a quarter. Nuclear was the largest clean electricity source, supplying about 25%, followed by solar at roughly 7%. Biofuels and hydropower each contributed around 1%. These figures show that South Korea has a substantial low-carbon foundation, but fossil fuels still dominate its electricity supply, contributing to climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in South Korea?

Electricity consumption per person is growing, but only marginally. The latest 2026 figure reached about 12,200 kWh per person, just 24 kWh, or 0.2%, above the previous record set in 2025. Meanwhile, low-carbon electricity generation fell to roughly 4,400 kWh per person, about 280 kWh below its 2025 record of 4,670 kWh—a decline of around 6%. This near-stagnation in overall electricity consumption and retreat in clean generation are concerning: stronger low-carbon growth is needed to support electrification and rising demand from AI without increasing fossil-fuel dependence.

Suggestions

South Korea should expand its established nuclear fleet while accelerating solar deployment. France, where nuclear supplies about 67% of electricity, demonstrates how nuclear can underpin a predominantly clean electricity system; Finland’s roughly 37% nuclear share offers another useful industrial-economy comparison. For solar, South Korea can learn from Germany, which generates about 20% of its electricity from solar, and the Netherlands, at roughly 19%, particularly in making productive use of rooftops and developed land. The United Kingdom, with around 30% wind electricity, also offers relevant experience for a country considering greater coastal and offshore wind development. Together, expanded nuclear, solar and wind generation could strengthen South Korea’s clean electricity supply and reduce reliance on coal and gas.

History

South Korea’s low-carbon electricity history shows the substantial gains that sustained nuclear development can deliver. In the late 1980s, the listed annual nuclear increases ranged from about 7 to 11 TWh, followed by further strong gains during the 1990s, including roughly 13 TWh in both 1998 and 1999. Expansion continued through the 2000s, with a particularly large increase of about 16 TWh in 2005. Later growth years included gains of nearly 18 TWh in 2014, about 8 TWh in 2015 and 12 TWh in 2019. More recently, nuclear generation increased by roughly 17 TWh in 2022 and 8 TWh in 2024. These achievements provide a strong foundation for renewed, sustained growth in clean electricity generation.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Aug 2025 – Jul 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.