South Korea is experiencing a surge in electricity demand due to ongoing heatwaves and the expansion of the artificial intelligence (AI) era. The hourly average electricity demand reached 100.2 gigawatts between 2 and 3 p.m. on Aug. 7, marking the onset of an era where summer power needs consistently exceed 100 GW. Typically, peak electricity demand during summer occurs in the second week of August, after summer vacation ends and large businesses resume full operations. Although the reserve margin remains above 10%, the government remains on high alert due to persistent heatwaves with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius.
Even if this peak is managed, electricity demand is expected to rise rapidly in the future due to several factors, including the construction of semiconductor clusters, the expansion of electric vehicle usage, and the push for carbon neutrality, which involves increasing zero-carbon power sources. For instance, the planned semiconductor clusters in Pyeongtaek, Hwaseong, Yongin, and Icheon in Gyeonggi Province will add an additional 10 GW of demand by 2050, equivalent to a quarter of the current electricity demand in the Seoul metropolitan area.
To ensure a stable power supply, expanding the power grid is urgent. South Korea’s existing infrastructure is insufficient for transporting electricity from nuclear, wind, and solar sources in North Gyeongsang, Gangwon, and South Jeolla provinces to major consumption centers. Despite this, power grid construction has stalled due to opposition from environmental groups, local residents, and uncooperative local governments since the Miryang transmission tower dispute in 2008. Key projects, such as the East Coast–New Gapyeong HVDC (high-voltage direct current) line for power from East Coast nuclear and coal plants and the West Coast underwater HVDC line for renewable energy from Honam (Gwangju and Jeolla provinces), have been delayed by several years.
Failure to seize the “golden time” for power grid expansion could lead to a potential power crisis. Despite the urgency, the Special Act on Power Grid Expansion, intended to ensure fair compensation for residents and expedite construction, has faced repeated delays in the National Assembly. After being scrapped in the 21st National Assembly and still lacking substantial discussion in the 22nd, this law must be enacted without further delay to prevent power shortages.
