South Korea Coal Power: Generation, Share and Trend
South Korea generated 195 TWh of electricity from coal in 2025, 31.1% of its total, according to Ember. That made it the 8th largest coal power producer in 2025 of the 85 countries with Ember data, comparing each country's latest year. Coal supplied 33.1% of the world's electricity in 2025. These are annual statistics for 2025, with monthly figures through June 2026; they are compiled from national sources and are not real time.
Key Facts
- South Korea generated 195 TWh of electricity from coal in 2025.
- Coal supplied 31.1% of South Korea's electricity in 2025.
- South Korea was the 8th largest coal power producer in 2025 among the 85 countries with Ember data, comparing each country's latest year.
- South Korea's coal generation in 2025 was 6% lower than in 2020, when it was 208 TWh.
- South Korea's coal generation in 2025 was 16% lower than in 2015, when it was 233 TWh.
- South Korea's coal generation peaked at 261 TWh in 2017.
- South Korea's coal share in 2025 was below the world share of 33.1%.
- South Korea had 41.7 GW of coal generating capacity in 2025.
- Coal power in South Korea emitted 160 MtCO2 in 2025, 61% of the power sector's emissions.
Key Figures, 2025
| Measure | Value | As of / source |
|---|---|---|
| Coal generation | 195 TWh | 2025 · Ember |
| Share of South Korea's electricity | 31.1% | 2025 · Ember |
| World share of coal | 33.1% | 2025 · Ember |
| Rank by coal generation (each country's latest year) | 8 of 85 | 2025 · Ember |
| Coal capacity | 41.7 GW | 2025 · Ember |
| Coal power emissions | 160 MtCO2 | 2025 · Ember |
Coal Generation Year by Year
Ember annual statistics, 1985 to 2025Annual statistics through 2025, TWh
| Year | Coal |
|---|---|
| 1985 | 25.0 TWh |
| 1986 | 25.6 TWh |
| 1987 | 24.6 TWh |
| 1988 | 30.5 TWh |
| 1989 | 31.6 TWh |
| 1990 | 34.5 TWh |
| 1991 | 37.7 TWh |
| 1992 | 43.2 TWh |
| 1993 | 54.5 TWh |
| 1994 | 66.1 TWh |
| 1995 | 73.5 TWh |
| 1996 | 83.3 TWh |
| 1997 | 95.4 TWh |
| 1998 | 104 TWh |
| 1999 | 112 TWh |
| 2000 | 115 TWh |
| 2001 | 127 TWh |
| 2002 | 137 TWh |
| 2003 | 139 TWh |
| 2004 | 143 TWh |
| 2005 | 150 TWh |
| 2006 | 154 TWh |
| 2007 | 171 TWh |
| 2008 | 191 TWh |
| 2009 | 209 TWh |
| 2010 | 218 TWh |
| 2011 | 225 TWh |
| 2012 | 223 TWh |
| 2013 | 224 TWh |
| 2014 | 226 TWh |
| 2015 | 233 TWh |
| 2016 | 233 TWh |
| 2017 | 261 TWh |
| 2018 | 258 TWh |
| 2019 | 245 TWh |
| 2020 | 208 TWh |
| 2021 | 213 TWh |
| 2022 | 209 TWh |
| 2023 | 201 TWh |
| 2024 | 191 TWh |
| 2025 | 195 TWh |
Annual statistics through 2025, % of generation
| Year | South Korea | World |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 40.0% | n/a |
| 1986 | 36.7% | n/a |
| 1987 | 30.6% | n/a |
| 1988 | 32.8% | n/a |
| 1989 | 30.5% | n/a |
| 1990 | 29.1% | n/a |
| 1991 | 28.6% | n/a |
| 1992 | 29.5% | n/a |
| 1993 | 33.7% | n/a |
| 1994 | 36.0% | n/a |
| 1995 | 36.1% | n/a |
| 1996 | 36.9% | n/a |
| 1997 | 38.7% | n/a |
| 1998 | 44.0% | n/a |
| 1999 | 42.9% | n/a |
| 2000 | 39.6% | 38.0% |
| 2001 | 41.1% | 38.0% |
| 2002 | 41.4% | 38.3% |
| 2003 | 40.0% | 39.5% |
| 2004 | 39.0% | 39.0% |
| 2005 | 38.6% | 39.5% |
| 2006 | 38.2% | 40.2% |
| 2007 | 40.2% | 40.8% |
| 2008 | 43.1% | 40.2% |
| 2009 | 46.3% | 39.9% |
| 2010 | 44.1% | 39.8% |
| 2011 | 43.4% | 40.6% |
| 2012 | 42.1% | 39.9% |
| 2013 | 41.7% | 40.8% |
| 2014 | 41.8% | 40.5% |
| 2015 | 42.5% | 38.7% |
| 2016 | 41.5% | 37.8% |
| 2017 | 45.2% | 38.0% |
| 2018 | 43.5% | 38.0% |
| 2019 | 41.8% | 36.7% |
| 2020 | 36.0% | 35.4% |
| 2021 | 35.1% | 36.0% |
| 2022 | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| 2023 | 32.6% | 35.2% |
| 2024 | 30.5% | 34.2% |
| 2025 | 31.1% | 33.1% |
| Year | Generation | Share | World share | Capacity | Emissions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 195 TWh | 31.1% | 33.1% | 41.7 GW | 160 MtCO2 |
| 2024 | 191 TWh | 30.5% | 34.2% | 41.2 GW | 157 MtCO2 |
| 2023 | 201 TWh | 32.6% | 35.2% | 40.1 GW | 165 MtCO2 |
| 2022 | 209 TWh | 33.6% | 35.6% | 39.1 GW | 172 MtCO2 |
| 2021 | 213 TWh | 35.1% | 36.0% | 38.1 GW | 175 MtCO2 |
| 2020 | 208 TWh | 36.0% | 35.4% | 36.7 GW | 172 MtCO2 |
| 2019 | 245 TWh | 41.8% | 36.7% | 37.9 GW | 202 MtCO2 |
| 2018 | 258 TWh | 43.5% | 38.0% | 37.6 GW | 213 MtCO2 |
| 2017 | 261 TWh | 45.2% | 38.0% | 37.6 GW | 216 MtCO2 |
| 2016 | 233 TWh | 41.5% | 37.8% | 32.8 GW | 193 MtCO2 |
Full year by year history for South Korea
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025. World shares are Ember's World totals; ranks compare each country's latest year, which can differ between countries.
Coal Generation Month by Month
Ember monthly statistics through June 2026Monthly statistics through June 2026, TWh
| Month | Coal |
|---|---|
| 2024-07 | 16.2 TWh |
| 2024-08 | 19.3 TWh |
| 2024-09 | 15.1 TWh |
| 2024-10 | 11.4 TWh |
| 2024-11 | 11.5 TWh |
| 2024-12 | 14.8 TWh |
| 2025-01 | 13.1 TWh |
| 2025-02 | 11.3 TWh |
| 2025-03 | 9.44 TWh |
| 2025-04 | 8.15 TWh |
| 2025-05 | 10.5 TWh |
| 2025-06 | 13.8 TWh |
| 2025-07 | 20.4 TWh |
| 2025-08 | 21.2 TWh |
| 2025-09 | 19.1 TWh |
| 2025-10 | 13.5 TWh |
| 2025-11 | 13.3 TWh |
| 2025-12 | 17.3 TWh |
| 2026-01 | 16.8 TWh |
| 2026-02 | 13.6 TWh |
| 2026-03 | 12.5 TWh |
| 2026-04 | 11.1 TWh |
| 2026-05 | 11.8 TWh |
| 2026-06 | 15.1 TWh |
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of June 2026. Monthly figures for South Korea can differ slightly from the annual totals.