- Coal Production refers to the total amount of coal extracted from surface and underground mines within a country during a given year. It is typically measured in million tonnes and represents the output of raw coal before processing or consumption.
South Korea Coal Production was 0.600 Million Tonnes in 2023, down 25% on 2022. The Coal Production dataset of South Korea from 2015 to 2023 provides a detailed overview of the country’s limited domestic coal mining activity, highlighting annual production volumes, output trends, and developments across the coal sector. Measured in thousand tonnes, the dataset represents the total quantity of coal produced from domestic sources each year.
South Korea Coal Production moved from 1.80 Million Tonnes in 2015 to 0.600 Million Tonnes in 2023 (−66.7%), an average of −12.8% a year. The series high was 1.80 Million Tonnes in 2015 and the low 0.600 Million Tonnes in 2023.
The gap between the series high (2015) and low (2023) is 1.20 Million Tonnes. The sharpest single-year move was −25% in 2023.
Among the 30 countries in this dataset, South Korea ranks 28 for 2023, behind China (4,710 Million Tonnes) and India (1,011 Million Tonnes). It accounts for 0% of the global total in 2023.
Full series
Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Million Tonnes.
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Year | Million Tonnes | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Trough | 0.600 | −25% |
| 2022 | 0.800 | −11.1% |
| 2021 | 0.900 | −10% |
| 2020 | 1.00 | −9.1% |
| 2019 | 1.10 | −8.3% |
| 2018 | 1.20 | −20% |
| 2017 | 1.50 | −11.8% |
| 2016 | 1.70 | −5.6% |
| 2015Peak | 1.80 | — |
Regional context
Coal Production by country, 2023, Million Tonnes. South Korea is highlighted.
Data definition
Coal Production — - Coal Production refers to the total amount of coal extracted from surface and underground mines within a country during a given year. It is typically measured in million tonnes and represents the output of raw coal before processing or consumption. The indicator includes the extraction of various coal types used for energy generation and industrial applications, reflecting a country's coal resource utilization, mining activity, and contribution to domestic and global coal supply. Coal Production is widely used to assess the performance of the mining sector, energy security, industrial development, and the availability of coal as a primary energy source.
The data includes the production of all major types of coal, including anthracite, bituminous coal, sub-bituminous coal, lignite (brown coal), and other commercially recoverable coal grades, where reported under national energy statistics. It covers coal extracted from both surface (open-pit) and underground mining operations for use in electricity generation, steel production, cement manufacturing, industrial processes, and other commercial applications. Production from both public and private mining operations is included, regardless of whether the coal is consumed domestically or exported. Data is compiled using standardized international energy reporting methodologies based on national mining statistics and industry sources, enabling consistent comparison of coal production across countries and over time.
The data excludes coal consumption, coal imports and exports, coal reserves, coal stock changes, and coal used after processing into secondary energy products. It also excludes coal-derived products such as coke, coke oven gas, coal tar, coal bed methane, synthetic fuels produced through coal-to-liquids (CTL) technologies, and other processed coal products unless specifically included in the reporting methodology. The indicator does not measure mining productivity, coal quality, calorific value, environmental impacts, or greenhouse gas emissions associated with coal production or use. Minor differences may occur due to variations in national reporting standards, coal classifications, moisture adjustments, and statistical estimation methodologies across countries.
Coal Production — - Coal Production refers to the total amount of coal extracted from surface and underground mines within a country during a given year. It is typically measured in million tonnes and represents the output of raw coal before processing or consumption. The indicator includes the extraction of various coal types used for energy generation and industrial applications, reflecting a country's coal resource utilization, mining activity, and contribution to domestic and global coal supply. Coal Production is widely used to assess the performance of the mining sector, energy security, industrial development, and the availability of coal as a primary energy source.
It serves as an important indicator of the remaining coal mining industry, reflecting changes in domestic production, resource availability, and the role of local coal within South Korea’s energy system.
South Korea produced 1,800 thousand tonnes of coal in 2015, with production declining to 1,700 thousand tonnes in 2016 and 1,500 thousand tonnes in 2017. Output continued to decrease to 1,200 thousand tonnes in 2018, 1,100 thousand tonnes in 2019, and 1,000 thousand tonnes in 2020. Production fell further to 900 thousand tonnes in 2021, 800 thousand tonnes in 2022, and 600 thousand tonnes in 2023, representing the lowest level during the assessment period.
Overall, the dataset highlights a continuous decline in South Korea’s domestic coal production over the review period. The reduction reflects limited domestic coal reserves, increasing production costs, greater reliance on imported coal, and the country’s ongoing transition toward cleaner energy sources. Domestic coal production now contributes only a small share of South Korea’s overall energy requirements.
The dataset is valuable for evaluating South Korea’s coal production outlook, analyzing domestic mining activity, and assessing long-term developments within the national energy sector. It supports market research, policy development, investment analysis, and strategic planning while providing useful insights for researchers, government agencies, mining companies, and industry stakeholders monitoring production trends, resource utilization, and the changing role of coal within South Korea’s energy landscape.
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Definition- Coal Production refers to the total amount of coal extracted from surface and underground mines within a country during a given year. It is typically measured in million tonnes and represents the output of raw coal before processing or consumption. The indicator includes the extraction of various coal types used for energy generation and industrial applications, reflecting a country's coal resource utilization, mining activity, and contribution to domestic and global coal supply. Coal Production is widely used to assess the performance of the mining sector, energy security, industrial development, and the availability of coal as a primary energy source.
South Korea Coal Production was 0.600 Million Tonnes in 2023, down 25% on 2022.
South Korea Coal Production moved from 1.80 Million Tonnes in 2015 to 0.600 Million Tonnes in 2023 (−66.7%), an average of −12.8% a year. The series high was 1.80 Million Tonnes in 2015 and the low 0.600 Million Tonnes in 2023.
The highest value was 1.80 Million Tonnes in 2015 and the lowest was 0.600 Million Tonnes in 2023.
Included: The data includes the production of all major types of coal, including anthracite, bituminous coal, sub-bituminous coal, lignite (brown coal), and other commercially recoverable coal grades, where reported under national energy statistics. It covers coal extracted from both surface (open-pit) and underground mining operations for use in electricity generation, steel production, cement manufacturing, industrial processes, and other commercial applications. Production from both public and private mining operations is included, regardless of whether the coal is consumed domestically or exported. Data is compiled using standardized international energy reporting methodologies based on national mining statistics and industry sources, enabling consistent comparison of coal production across countries and over time. Excluded: The data excludes coal consumption, coal imports and exports, coal reserves, coal stock changes, and coal used after processing into secondary energy products. It also excludes coal-derived products such as coke, coke oven gas, coal tar, coal bed methane, synthetic fuels produced through coal-to-liquids (CTL) technologies, and other processed coal products unless specifically included in the reporting methodology. The indicator does not measure mining productivity, coal quality, calorific value, environmental impacts, or greenhouse gas emissions associated with coal production or use. Minor differences may occur due to variations in national reporting standards, coal classifications, moisture adjustments, and statistical estimation methodologies across countries.
The series is sourced from energyinst.org (https://www.energyinst.org/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1542714/684_EI_Stat_Review_V16_DIGITAL.pdf). It covers 2015–2023 and is reported in Million Tonnes.
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