Current Status of Geothermal Development in Korea

Abstract

Geothermal utilization in Korea has been of direct-use, mainly on public bath with low-temperature geothermal water from hundred wells to deeply-connected fractures. Since 2002, government R&D investments on geothermal development are increasing. There is on-going program to develop deep geothermal water in Southeastern part of Korea. The pilot drilling showed a geothermal gradient of 40 ..C/km and existence of several permeable zones related with fracture systems and a production well down to 2 km deep is under development for the purpose of district heating usage. Geological and geophysical investigations for several candidate sites for geothermal developments are also ongoing. Geothermal heat pump installation is rapidly increasing and government supports researches on the thermal characteristics of subsurface materials and groundwater thermal energy utilization techniques, as well. R&D activities are expected to continue to increase thanks to high public awareness on the importance of renewable energy and recent high oil-price situation.