Is KEPCO a monopoly?

Written by Editorial Team | Last Updated: August 2026

Yes, the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) operates as a state-sanctioned vertical monopoly over the transmission, distribution, and wholesale generation of electricity across South Korea. While the government has introduced independent power producers to supply electricity into the wholesale market to foster limited competition, KEPCO and its specialized subsidiaries retain absolute control over the nation's power grids, national transmission infrastructure, and retail electricity pricing structures, subject to strict regulatory oversight by government authorities.

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