During the Seollal holiday, South Korea is expected to experience a significant decrease in power demand, potentially falling to around 37.6 gigawatts, which is less than half of the peak recorded this winter. The Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment has convened meetings with power companies to address these expected shortages and plan for the management of electricity supply. Factors contributing to this decline in power use include holiday closures of businesses and factories, along with unusually warm weather that reduces heating needs.

The authorities emphasize the importance of managing energy production in relation to expected demand. Traditionally, the winter peak demand can reach up to 100 gigawatts, but during lighter demand periods, such as the holiday, over 60% of power generation facilities may remain offline. This circumstance necessitates careful planning for future energy projects and investments, particularly those involving nuclear plants, which require several billion won and are inflexible in their output regarding sudden demand shifts.

With electricity demand expected to drop significantly during the holiday, there could be an increased risk of instability in the electricity supply. The grid’s real-time operation requires a balance between supply and demand, and excess supply can lead to frequency fluctuations, potentially resulting in blackouts. The concerns are heightened for nuclear energy, which constitutes over 30% of the nation’s power supply, as it cannot be quickly adjusted when demand fluctuates, necessitating extensive operational controls during the holiday to mitigate risks.