Korea, South - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
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Korea, South  

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Country Analysis Brief Overview

  • South Korea is a major energy importer.
  • South Korea has a large refining sector, but relies on crude imports for nearly all of its oil needs.
  • South Korea is the second-largest importer of liquefied natural gas in the world behind Japan.
  • Conventional thermal power accounts for more than two-thirds of South Korea's electricity generation.

Read full Korea, South Analysis Brief »

Analysis Last Updated: January 17, 2013

Overview data for Korea, South

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Petroleum (Thousand Barrels per Day)
Previous Year
Latest Year
   
History
Korea, South
Asia & Oceania
OECD
World
Rank
 Korea, South
Total Oil Production 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , -12.7334 , -9.0202 , -8.1450 , -7.4346 , -9.5639 , -11.7858 , -9.8286 , -20.7430 , -23.5888 , -23.4761 , -23.7454 , -22.3424 , -15.2285 , -0.6944 , 10.6593 , 5.5156 , 14.0113 , 14.7822 , 21.9133 , 14.5888 , 16.9178 , 17.2481 , 28.0154 , 30.0332 , 33.6573 , 54.6500 , 58.4747 , 59.7895 , 61.0436
(1980-2012)
59.79 8,936 21,620 87,329 58 61.04
Crude Oil Production 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000
(1980-2012)
0.00 7,625 14,908 74,136 93 0.00
Consumption 537.0000 , 536.0000 , 534.0000 , 561.0000 , 554.0000 , 552.0000 , 592.0000 , 627.0000 , 746.0000 , 860.0000 , 1048.0000 , 1263.0000 , 1527.0000 , 1684.0000 , 1840.0000 , 2008.0000 , 2101.0000 , 2255.0000 , 1917.0000 , 2084.0000 , 2135.3306 , 2132.0411 , 2149.1534 , 2175.3836 , 2155.1202 , 2191.3370 , 2179.9041 , 2240.5096 , 2142.3088 , 2188.2603 , 2268.3534 , 2230.1671 , 2268.3224
(1980-2012)
2,230.17 28,246 46,495 88,254 10 2,268.32
Estimated Petroleum Net Exports -537.0000 , -536.0000 , -534.0000 , -561.0000 , -566.7334 , -561.0202 , -600.1450 , -634.4346 , -755.5639 , -871.7858 , -1057.8286 , -1283.7430 , -1550.5888 , -1707.4761 , -1863.7454 , -2030.3424 , -2116.2285 , -2255.6944 , -1906.3407 , -2078.4844 , -2121.3193 , -2117.2589 , -2127.2401 , -2160.7948 , -2138.2024 , -2174.0889 , -2151.8887 , -2210.4764 , -2108.6515 , -2133.6103 , -2209.8787 , -2170.3776 , -2207.2788
(1980-2012)
-2,170.38 -19,310 -24,875 -- 6 -2,207.28
Refinery Capacity 601.0000 , 607.0000 , 755.0000 , 755.0000 , 776.0000 , 776.0000 , 782.0000 , 862.0000 , 820.0000 , 880.0000 , 867.0000 , 867.0000 , 1163.1000 , 1147.1000 , 1147.1000 , 1169.9000 , 1244.0000 , 2211.2500 , 2540.1000 , 2540.1000 , 2540.1000 , 2560.1000 , 2560.1000 , 2560.1000 , 2544.0000 , 2576.5000 , 2576.5000 , 2576.5000 , 2576.5000 , 2606.5000 , 2701.5000 , 2721.5000 , 2759.5000
(1980-2012)
2,722 24,875 45,873 88,097 6 2,760
Proved Reserves(Billion Barrels) 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000
(1980-2003)
0.00 44 75 1,032 90 0.00
Natural Gas (Billion Cubic Feet)
Previous Year
Latest Year
   
History
Korea, South
Asia & Oceania
World
Rank
 
 Korea, South
Production 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 17.3750 , 15.4680 , 15.2914 , 15.6092 , 26.5216 , 33.5493 , 35.7741
(1980-2011)
33.55 16,939 111,954 64   35.77
Consumption 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 2.5074 , 74.7619 , 96.5865 , 93.4788 , 107.0000 , 124.0000 , 162.5549 , 203.0613 , 270.3010 , 326.8403 , 431.7965 , 524.7456 , 490.8785 , 597.7417 , 668.5836 , 718.8015 , 823.6517 , 858.2251 , 1011.7748 , 1076.2953 , 1137.2843 , 1230.7984 , 1265.3718 , 1215.2951 , 1525.6433 , 1614.2487
(1980-2011)
1,525.64 20,602 113,321 21   1,614.25
Net Export/Imports(-) -106.0000 , -127.0000 , -157.9993 , -205.4274 , -273.4400 , -325.6396 , -442.5676 , -536.2936 , -488.8302 , -598.3420 , -670.9497 , -745.4290 , -822.1332 , -896.2241 , -1021.6276 , -1029.1850 , -1164.7240 , -1179.0972 , -1314.3184 , -1190.7865 , -1548.6334 , -1653.8721
(1990-2011)
-1,548.63 -3,425 -- 6   -1,653.87
Proved Reserves
(Trillion Cubic Feet)		 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.0000 , 0.2500 , 0.1860
(1980-2013)
0.25 505 NA 75   0.19
Coal (Million Short Tons)
Previous Year
Latest Year
   
History
Korea, South
Asia & Oceania
World
Rank
 
 Korea, South
Production 20.5294 , 21.8974 , 22.1741 , 21.8930 , 23.5564 , 24.8494 , 26.7344 , 26.7575 , 26.7807 , 22.9115 , 18.9785 , 16.5986 , 13.1947 , 10.4091 , 8.1990 , 6.3052 , 5.4575 , 4.9736 , 4.8072 , 4.6264 , 4.5746 , 4.2075 , 3.6575 , 3.6354 , 3.5175 , 3.1217 , 3.1129 , 3.1813 , 3.0567 , 2.7767 , 2.2972 , 2.2972
(1980-2011)
2.297 5,101 7,954 41   2.297
Consumption 30.7655 , 34.1838 , 34.6655 , 37.7597 , 44.2358 , 49.5224 , 53.8501 , 52.3862 , 53.5933 , 50.6236 , 49.7738 , 48.2402 , 43.0860 , 45.6092 , 46.8504 , 49.2469 , 53.8666 , 57.0545 , 66.0218 , 61.8860 , 70.9800 , 80.0245 , 80.5668 , 82.2677 , 86.0178 , 87.9115 , 89.6367 , 98.2259 , 110.5221 , 114.1499 , 127.4140 , 139.4810
(1980-2011)
127.414 4,961 7,770 10   139.481
Net Export/Imports(-) -5680.2104 , -8186.8665 , -10131.3437 , -12262.1116 , -14493.1898 , -21572.2333 , -22574.2343 , -22874.0630 , -26185.4063 , -27162.0542 , -26573.4199 , -32462.7918 , -33187.2881 , -39657.8558 , -44480.4680 , -50566.3290 , -51790.9969 , -55786.8756 , -65207.2285 , -57584.7454 , -67944.2676 , -71613.8621 , -75852.2493 , -77583.9804 , -84925.3741 , -81833.3907 , -84122.8914 , -94082.2745 , -107061.9908 , -109873.9871 , -125807.8978 , -138164.8081
(1980-2011)
-125.808 -3 -- 3   -138.165
Electricity (Billion Kilowatthours)
Previous Year
Latest Year
   
History
Korea, South
Asia & Oceania
World
Rank
 
 Korea, South
Net Generation 34.4720 , 37.2330 , 39.6700 , 44.9110 , 49.6180 , 53.4680 , 58.8330 , 66.5530 , 76.9070 , 85.7700 , 98.1250 , 110.2070 , 121.5150 , 134.2574 , 170.7677 , 188.8879 , 210.4546 , 229.2212 , 225.0120 , 222.0870 , 271.9933 , 291.3446 , 310.3041 , 323.9238 , 345.7205 , 365.7718 , 379.1983 , 401.5492 , 418.2244 , 425.2638 , 467.5453 , 485.0764
(1980-2011)
467.55 7,689 20,225 10   485.08
Net Consumption 32.0640 , 34.6570 , 36.9700 , 41.5870 , 46.3270 , 50.1460 , 55.9350 , 63.5460 , 73.3670 , 81.0140 , 94.4920 , 107.4730 , 118.9850 , 126.0654 , 163.2957 , 180.0379 , 199.9506 , 218.2762 , 212.4580 , 212.0190 , 259.5423 , 279.2546 , 296.4001 , 312.8918 , 332.9265 , 352.0438 , 364.6113 , 386.2042 , 402.1184 , 408.4938 , 449.5113
(1980-2010)
408.49 6,474 17,360 10   449.51
Installed Capacity (GWe) 9.0357 , 10.1147 , 10.5547 , 12.7157 , 14.7407 , 17.0372 , 18.0106 , 18.9713 , 19.8947 , 19.9973 , 20.0207 , 20.1102 , 23.1205 , 26.6534 , 28.7500 , 32.1840 , 39.2410 , 45.3360 , 47.9860 , 51.5950 , 53.6930 , 56.7630 , 58.9510 , 60.6790 , 64.5320 , 66.5370 , 70.0810 , 73.3730 , 79.8590 , 80.5880 , 84.6620
(1980-2010)
80.59 1,761 4,843 13   84.66
Total Primary Energy (Quadrillion Btu)
Previous Year
Latest Year
   
History
Korea, South
Asia & Oceania
World
Rank
 
 Korea, South
Production 0.3811 , 0.4055 , 0.4109 , 0.4679 , 0.5198 , 0.6000 , 0.7434 , 0.8606 , 0.8481 , 0.8708 , 0.8626 , 0.8446 , 0.7872 , 0.7690 , 0.7159 , 0.7719 , 0.8191 , 0.8429 , 0.9756 , 1.1028 , 1.1566 , 1.1805 , 1.2268 , 1.3413 , 1.3439 , 1.4964 , 1.5122 , 1.4638 , 1.5356 , 1.5158 , 1.5334 , 1.5624
(1980-2011)
1.533 154 509 44   1.562
Consumption 1.7584 , 1.8223 , 1.8328 , 2.0101 , 2.1348 , 2.3059 , 2.5749 , 2.8163 , 3.1231 , 3.3963 , 3.8413 , 4.3433 , 4.8304 , 5.3918 , 5.8361 , 6.3618 , 6.7457 , 7.3274 , 6.9026 , 7.4717 , 7.8348 , 8.1010 , 8.5125 , 8.7620 , 9.0085 , 9.3321 , 9.4499 , 9.8360 , 9.8871 , 9.9715 , 10.7827 , 11.1607
(1980-2011)
10.783 194 511 10   11.161
Energy Intensity
(Btu per 2005 U.S. Dollars)		 10229.5872 , 9985.8671 , 9357.9341 , 9265.3447 , 9102.4507 , 9205.8220 , 9292.8626 , 9148.2932 , 9168.9897 , 9341.2429 , 9679.0284 , 10004.1677 , 10508.7207 , 11052.2011 , 11022.0276 , 11005.6899 , 10906.4609 , 11320.5249 , 11448.9874 , 11335.5167 , 10940.7513 , 10880.1931 , 10669.9029 , 10683.2641 , 10498.8879 , 10461.9551 , 10072.4676 , 9974.7004 , 9801.2265 , 9853.4006 , 10036.5689 , 10025.3570
(1980-2011)
10,037 7,975 7,452 35   10,025
Carbon Dioxide Emissions (Million Metric Tons of CO₂)
Previous Year
Latest Year
   
History
Korea, South
Asia & Oceania
World
Rank
 
 Korea, South
Total from Consumption of Fossil Fuels
 131.7355 , 137.9045 , 138.9484 , 148.4895 , 163.6168 , 172.3243 , 180.2992 , 185.6901 , 207.8065 , 219.5069 , 242.1318 , 269.6744 , 293.4606 , 330.6410 , 351.4244 , 381.4337 , 396.9028 , 426.2600 , 380.7515 , 423.5814 , 438.6543 , 450.4483 , 467.9952 , 477.8473 , 485.9100 , 493.8007 , 484.2100 , 503.0997 , 521.7701 , 524.4392 , 581.0996 , 610.9538
(1980-2011)
581.10 13,840 31,502 7   610.95

-- = Not applicable; NA = Not available; F = Forecast value
Sources: EIA. For more detailed data, see International Energy Statistics.

Data last updated: May 30, 2013

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