South Korea's energy ministry on June 4 said it had finalized plans to raise the share of the country's power output generated from renewable sources to as much as 35% by 2040.

The plan was largely unchanged from a draft released in mid-April that aimed to boost renewable power generation more than four-fold from current levels while reducing coal and nuclear power.

Asia's fourth-largest economy is shifting towards cleaner energy amid growing criticism over its air quality.

At present, coal power accounts for about 40% of the country's total electricity needs, while renewable power makes up nearly 8%.