South Korea has presented a draft roadmap to remove all 60 operating coal-fired power units, with 39.5 gigawatts of capacity, from the generation market by 2040. The plan would replace 27 units with liquefied natural gas generation by 2036, replace 12 units retiring in 2037 and 2038 with pumped-storage hydropower, and retire the remaining 21 units, totaling 19.1 gigawatts, in stages from 2037 to 2039. Up to 10 of those early-retired units could be retained as security reserve power for supply emergencies. The framework remains a starting point for discussion in the 12th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand rather than a confirmed draft. Private East Coast operators oppose early closures, citing about 17 trillion won of investment, transmission delays that kept plants below 30% capacity, and more than 1 trillion won in settlement-payment losses. They are seeking compensation, legal safeguards and replacement projects including LNG, small modular reactors, battery energy storage systems and LNG combined heat and power facilities.