Korea 2025

Infographic

Having decoupled emissions from economic growth, Korea is igniting the next stage: substantive reductions

Plans for a major power sector transformation would double low-emissions sources

TWh

Hydrogen is set to play a growing role in supporting Korea's isolated power grid


55%
of battery manufacturing capacity outside of China is owned by Korean companies (2024)

Capacity share by country affiliation

3rd
worldwide in number of nuclear power plants that started construction (2005-2025)

Over 600
nuclear energy patents filed since 2000, ranking fifth worldwide

Fuel cell electric trucks and buses can help decarbonise heavy-duty transport

Sources
Emissions: IEA analysis based on UNFCCC (2025), GHG data (accessed May 2025); Korea, Greenhouse Gas Inventory & Research Center (2025), National and Regional Greenhouse Gas Statistics (accessed May 2025); Korea, Ministry of Environment (2024), 2023 Greenhouse Gas Emissions (accessed May 2025).
Electricity and hydrogen: IEA analysis based on IEA (2025), World Energy Balances; Korea, Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (2025), 11th Basic Plan for Long-term Supply & Demand (accessed May 2025); Korea, Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (2021), Basic Plan for Hydrogen Economy Implementation (accessed July 2025).
Fuel cell electric trucks and buses: IEA analysis based on IEA (2025), Global EV Outlook 2025; Korea, Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (2019), Hydrogen Economy Roadmap (accessed July 2025).
Nuclear: IEA analysis based on IAEA (2025), Power Reactor Information System (accessed August 2025).