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Korea 2025
…this context, the International Energy Agency (IEA) conducts Energy Policy Reviews to support governments in developing more impactful energy and climate policies.This Energy Policy Review was prepared in partnership between the Government of Korea and the IEA. It draws on the IEA’s extensive knowledge and the inputs of expert peers from IEA Member countries to assess Korea’s most pressing energy sector challenges and provide recommendations on how to address them, backed by international best practices. The report also highlights areas where Korea’s leadership can serve as an example in promoting secure and clean energy transitions. It…
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Korea
Korea has set a target of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 by substantially increasing the share of renewable energy sources, gradually phasing out coal, significantly improving energy efficiency and fostering the country’s nascent hydrogen industry. Korea’s energy sector is characterised by a dominance of fossil fuels, a strong dependence on energy imports and one of the highest shares of industrial energy use among IEA countries. Korea aims to leverage the fourth industrial revolution for its energy transition and to foster green growth by means of low-carbon technologies and clean energy. Due to Korea’s high share of…
- Overview
- Energy mix
- Emissions
- Electricity
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+ 5 pages
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World Energy Investment 2025 Japan and Korea
…stable energy supplies and accelerating the energy transition. Japan’s Seventh Strategic Energy Plan emphasised the expectation of increased electricity demand and the importance of maintaining energy security. Korea’s 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand highlighted the importance of energy security to meet the country’s rapid increase in electricity demand spurred by advanced industries such as artificial intelligence (AI) data centres, semiconductors, and chip and battery manufacturing. Policy initiatives such as Japan’s capacity market operations and Korea’s 20% reserve margin targets, along with public–private co‑operation, will play a critical role in meeting the…
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Energy and AI in East Asia
This report was commissioned by the Korea Energy Economics Institute and was carried out jointly by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Korea Energy Economics Institute. The study has three objectives in the context of East Asia. First is to explore the possibilities presented by AI for the energy sector. Second is to examine the expected increase in electricity demand by data centres, and the impact on grid planning and operation. Third is to provide policy recommendations for embracing the opportunities presented by the application of AI to energy, as well as policies for proactively managing the challenges presented by…
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Carbon-Free Electricity in G20 Countries
Status and the way forward In 2024, the Republic of Korea proposed the Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) Initiative to promote the use of technology-neutral, carbon-free energy to decarbonise the energy sector.In line with this initiative, Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) commissioned this report to analyse the status and prospects of carbon-free energy in the electricity sector in G20 countries, and to provide policy recommendations to advance its progress.The International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Korea Energy Economics Institute (KEEi) jointly produced this report.
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What Next for the Global Car Industry
An Energy Technology Perspectives Special Report The global car industry has operated under relatively stable conditions for decades. The world’s largest car manufacturers are based in the European Union, Korea, Japan and the United States, and – more recently – in China, and the car industry is a major contributor to the economy in these countries. The strength of many of these car makers is built on decades at the forefront of technological innovation around the internal combustion engine (ICE), as well as highly integrated and optimised supply chains that allow for vehicles and their components to be produced at low…
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Nuclear Power
…nearly 420 active nuclear reactors is set to reach a record high in 2025 as Japan restarts production, maintenance works are completed in France, and new reactors begin commercial operations in various markets, including China, Europe, India and Korea. Meanwhile, more than 60 nuclear reactors are currently under construction – representing over 70 gigawatts (GW) of capacity – and governments’ interest in nuclear power is at its highest level since the oil crisis in the 1970s, reflecting efforts to bolster energy security, accelerate clean energy transitions and meet rising demand for electricity. Over 40 countries now have plans to expand its use.
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Sheltering From Oil Shocks Road transport fuels
Road transport accounts for around 45% of global oil demand, ranging from a third in Korea up to two-thirds in some countries in Europe and Latin America. In advanced economies, passenger cars dominate road transport demand, accounting for around 60% of road energy use. Trucks make up most of the remainder. In emerging economies, there is also a significant role for two/three-wheelers (scooters, motorcycles and tricycles), which account for around 5% of road transport demand and are more numerous than cars in many countries. The share of energy use in medium and heavy freight trucks is also…
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Delivering on the EU’s electrification ambitions
…electrification rate over that period has remained relatively stagnant, and today remains broadly similar to those of advanced economies that are also rich in fossil fuel resources, such as the United States and Australia. By contrast, comparable advanced economies with more limited domestic fossil fuel supplies – notably Japan and Korea – have reached electrification rates well above 30%. Electrification in every sector Achieving 32% electrification would increase EU electricity consumption by around 600 Terawatt-hours (TWh), roughly equivalent to the combined annual electricity consumption of France and Spain. This additional demand would be distributed roughly evenly across industry, buildings and transport…
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Korea 2025 Executive summary
The energy crises resulting from the global Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine propelled carbon neutrality and energy security to the forefront of Korea’s energy policy. Despite robust growth in gross domestic product (GDP), Korea has managed to stabilise and reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in recent years following a peak around 2018. Nonetheless, it faces challenges in fully decoupling emissions from economic growth. Notable among these challenges is the continued reliance on coal and the need for further expanding renewable energy technologies.Addressing Korea’s challenges will require sustained policy efforts, domestic…
