From August 2025 through July 2026, fossil fuels supplied about 62% of South Korea’s electricity, while low-carbon sources provided around 36%. Coal accounted for roughly a third of electricity consumption and gas for just over a quarter. Nuclear was the largest clean electricity source, supplying about a quarter of the total, followed by solar at around 7%. Biofuels and hydropower each contributed roughly 1–1.5%. 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 12,207 kWh per person, just 24 kWh—or around 0.2%—above the previous record set in 2025. Low-carbon electricity generation, however, fell to about 4,388 kWh per person, roughly 280 kWh below its 2025 record, a decline of around 6%. This divergence is concerning: clean electricity needs to grow faster, both to replace fossil generation and to meet additional demand from electrification and AI.

Suggestions

South Korea can build on its established nuclear industry by expanding its existing nuclear fleet, alongside accelerating solar deployment and developing wind generation. France, where nuclear supplies about 67% of electricity, demonstrates how this technology can provide the backbone of a low-carbon electricity system; Finland’s 37% nuclear share offers another useful reference. For solar, South Korea could examine the deployment approaches of other industrial economies, including Germany, where solar supplies about 20% of electricity, and the US state of California, where it provides around 31%. The United Kingdom’s roughly 30% wind share also offers a relevant example for developing offshore wind. Adapting these approaches to local conditions, while expanding grids and electricity storage, would help South Korea grow its clean electricity supply.

History

South Korea’s low-carbon electricity history has been shaped largely by substantial increases in nuclear generation. In the late 1980s, the listed annual gains ranged from 7 to 11 TWh, followed by further strong growth during the 1990s, including increases of about 13 TWh in both 1998 and 1999. Expansion continued in the 2000s, with a particularly large 16 TWh increase in 2005. The following decade was uneven: generation rebounded by nearly 18 TWh in 2014 and another 8 TWh in 2015, while 2019 brought a further 12 TWh increase. More recently, gains of about 17 TWh in 2022 and 8 TWh in 2024 underscored nuclear’s capacity to deliver substantial additions to South Korea’s clean electricity supply.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

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