Geothermal power in South Korea remains largely untapped due to geological constraints, as the country lacks the high-temperature resources typically associated with active volcanoes or significant tectonic activities.
The pilot Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) project started in 2010 was halted after a magnitude 5.4 earthquake in 2017 near the EGS site, which raised safety concerns about induced seismic activity and led to the cessation of deep geothermal exploration and a reduction in funding for geothermal research.
[1]: 1, 2022 Report In a related development, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has announced plans to power public buildings with geothermal energy as part of its climate action plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
[2] The 2017 earthquake in Pohang, the second most powerful in the region, is believed to have been triggered by geothermal power plant activities, further influencing government and public perspectives on geothermal energy.
[3] In Korea, there is a geothermal power plant in Pohang, North Gyeongsang.