How wind power grew in South Korea
Korea's first wind generator, a 3 kW unit, went up at Jedong Ranch on Jeju island on 27 February 1975. Fifteen turbines were built at Haengwon on Jeju between 1997 and 2003. In 2004 Korea Southern Power built the country's first commercial wind plant there, with four turbines and 6 MW. At sea, the 30 MW Tamra farm of ten Doosan turbines off Jeju produced first power in September 2016 and was officially opened in November 2017.
A renewable portfolio standard replaced the feed-in tariff in January 2012. It obliges 13 large generators to raise their renewable share. Before a special law of 2025, offshore projects took an average of 71 months to win permits from 10 ministries under 29 laws. Fixed-price offshore auctions began in 2022. The Offshore Wind Special Act took effect on 26 March 2026. The government now designates zones, projects may only be built inside them, and a committee chaired by the prime minister coordinates permits. In the first half of 2026 five offshore projects won 1,786 MW, including the first floating award.
Wind generated 3.64 TWh in 2025, 0.58% of Korea's electricity, from about 2.45 GW. Offshore capacity was about 0.35 GW in December 2025. The 11th Basic Plan for Electricity, finalised in February 2025, sets wind at 18.3 GW for 2030 and 40.7 GW for 2038. The climate ministry's newer offshore plan is 4 GW by 2030 and 25 GW by 2035.
Sources: Asia Economy · Korea JoongAng Daily · offshoreWIND.biz · IEA · Solutions for Our Climate · Global Arbitration Review · Asia Economy · Ember
Where South Korea's power comes from, 2025
| Source | Share of electricity |
|---|---|
| Coal | 31.1% |
| Nuclear | 29.6% |
| Gas | 27.9% |
| Solar | 6.0% |
| Bioenergy | 3.1% |
| Other fossil fuels | 0.9% |
| Wind | 0.6% |
| Hydro | 0.6% |
Wind farms in South Korea
We track 195 wind farms in South Korea: 1.7 GW operating and 49.5 GW under construction, consented or planned, with 43.5 GW of it offshore. Each one's owners, turbines and status are in the Wind app.
Electricity data: Ember yearly electricity data (CC BY 4.0). Wind farms: national registers and Global Energy Monitor; see data sources.
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