Fact Check: "South Korea relies entirely on energy imports, mostly from the Middle East."
What We Know
South Korea is heavily dependent on energy imports, sourcing approximately 98% of its fossil fuel consumption from international markets due to limited domestic resources (source-1). In terms of crude oil, South Korea is the world's fourth-largest importer, with more than 60% of its crude oil coming from the Middle East (source-2). Recent reports indicate that this reliance has increased, with the Middle East accounting for about 72% of total crude oil imports in 2023, up from 60% in 2021 (source-3).
Despite this heavy reliance, South Korea is actively seeking to diversify its energy sources. For instance, in April 2025, the country imported 63.5% of its crude oil from the Middle East, which was a decrease from previous months, indicating a trend towards reducing dependence on this region (source-5).
Analysis
The claim that South Korea relies entirely on energy imports is partially true. While it is accurate that South Korea imports nearly all of its energy needs, the assertion that it relies "entirely" on imports is misleading. The country is actively working to reduce its dependence on Middle Eastern crude oil by increasing imports from the Americas, which accounted for 27.2% of total imports in April 2025 (source-5).
The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is generally high. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is a reputable government agency that provides accurate data on energy statistics (source-1). Additionally, Reuters and S&P Global are well-established news organizations that report on energy markets and trends (source-3, source-5).
However, it is important to note that while the majority of crude oil imports come from the Middle East, South Korea is making strategic moves to diversify its energy sources, which indicates a shift in reliance rather than a static dependency.
Conclusion
The claim that "South Korea relies entirely on energy imports, mostly from the Middle East" is partially true. While it is accurate that South Korea imports nearly all of its energy and that a significant portion comes from the Middle East, the term "entirely" is misleading. The country is actively working to diversify its energy sources, reducing its reliance on Middle Eastern imports in favor of alternatives from the Americas.
Sources
- PDF Country Analysis Brief: South Korea - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- South Korea - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- South Korea considering buying more US oil and gas, industry minister - Reuters
- Nuclear growth helps South Korea cut back on coal and LNG imports - Reuters
- South Korea considers raising crude imports from Americas as Middle East tensions rise - S&P Global
