Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Geothermal Country Notes

Korea (Republic)
With its current heavy reliance on fossil fuels and nuclear power for electricity generation, Korea's energy supply structure may well develop into having a greater share of renewable energy in the coming years.

Historically, knowledge about and use of the country's geothermal potential has been relatively limited. As further research is undertaken it is not expected that a high-temperature resource suitable for power generation will be discovered. However, utilisation for direct purposes, mainly bathing,  has existed for many hundreds of years.

The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) is currently collecting data in respect of the low-temperature geothermal resource with a view to establishing a district heating scheme near the southeastern city of Pohang. The installation of geothermal heat pumps is at a very early stage of implementation but it is expected that this market will grow substantially.