Energy in South Korea

Energy in South Korea describes energy and electricity production, consumption and importation in South Korea.

South Korea's mineral production is not adequate to meet its need for manufacturing. The country imports bituminous and anthracite coal and crude petroleum. In 1987, 23.4 million tons of anthracite coal, 4,000 tons of tungsten, 565,000 tons of iron ore, and 47,000 tons of zinc ore were mined. Copper, lead, molybdenum, gold, silver, kaolin, and fluorite also were mined in lesser quantity (see fig. 9).

Energy producers were dominated by government enterprises, although privately operated coal mines and oil refineries also existed. In 1990, South Korea still had no proven oil reserves. Exploration until the 1980s in the Yellow Sea and on the continental shelf between Korea and Japan did not find any offshore oil, but the search continued. Coal supply in the country was insufficient and of low quality. The potential for hydroelectric power was limited because of high seasonal variations in the weather and the concentration of most of the rainfall in the summer. Accordingly, the government increasingly focused on developing nuclear power generation.