South Korea's first tidal plant at Uldolmok was finally completed earlier this month (14th May) after four years of construction. The plant, says the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, will produce 2.4GWh of electricity through 1000 kW of tidal power generation as the first step, which will be supplied to about 430 households annually. By 2013, it will have up to 90,000 kW of capacity, which is capable of supplying electricity to about 46 thousand houses, as the largest tidal power plant in Korea.

The Ministry went on to say that the development of infinite and eco-friendly marine energy is an urgent task for future national development as South Korea is 97% dependant on foreign energy and it will compulsorily reduce green house gas emission under UNFCCC. Jindo Uldolmok tidal power plant and Sihwa tidal power plant (254 thousand kW), which is scheduled to be completed by the end of next year, will, it says, help the country to become one of the advanced marine countries in the world.