Korea has industrialized quickly, and today has a manufacturing industry, which supplies electric appliances, cars and other high-tech products to the world market.

The Korean growth policy includes a commitment to PV manufacturing, which commenced in 1992, and to the use of PV, where appropriate, in the country. By the end of 1993 out of a total of 656 navigation lights, 527 had been converted to PV, with a total installed capacity of approximately 200 kWp - including 19 manned light-houses. Most of Korea's population has electricity, but diesel generators are used in remote locations and on islands. A 25 kWp PV system was installed on the Island of Hawado in 1988, and this has paved the way for PV to replace diesel generators as they become due for replacement. The largest system to date, 100 kWp on Hodo Island, was commissioned in 1993. It is estimated that the PV market for rural electrification will grow to around 10 MWp/year by the year 2000. The experience of Korea with its island PV system is being shared through the IEA  PVPS project on Stand-alone and island PV systems, Task 3.

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