LNG crucial for South Korea despite nuclear focus
Liquefied gas may lose market share to nuclear in South Korea, but demand could still be robust
South Korea is the world’s third-largest LNG importer, behind China and Japan. The country takes in c.46mn t/yr of the fuel, more than 10pc of the global market, making it a key consumer in a sector that has only grown in importance since the start of the Ukraine war and the emergence of Europe as a competing demand hub. And despite Seoul’s renewed embrace of nuclear power and plans to trim its dependence on imported gas, South Korea’s LNG intake is unlikely to have peaked, analysts suggest. The government of President Yoon Suk Yeol plans to build new nuclear power plants, in a significant departure from the previous administration of Moon Jae-in, who halted nuclear projects and talked about
Also in this section
28 April 2026
Oil traders warning of $200/bl oil are wrong, and the market should be wary of proclamations that the impact of the oil shortage has only begun to be felt and a that a ‘harsh adjustment’ is coming—even for industrialised nations
28 April 2026
Restoring supply from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Iraq involves complexities far beyond simply adjusting operational controls
28 April 2026
Datacentres will guzzle power at a ferocious rate, but the impact on wider energy markets will be far more complex than previously thought
28 April 2026
The key energy player faces balancing regional routes, political complexities, and creating a clear strategic vision for energy security






