-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 P3uFJIi1GQ22tcYO54qSxG8jLkwWnx/KwMBwfF/UaQknEG5qHN4mxdMjD0TK5OlI
 2ZbPTB9d3gJzOtNSNRP7Dw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001031296-03-000118.txt : 20030516
<SEC-HEADER>0001031296-03-000118.hdr.sgml : 20030516
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030516121103
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001031296-03-000118
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030514
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030516

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRSTENERGY CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001031296
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911]
		IRS NUMBER:				341843785
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		76 SOUTH MAIN ST
		CITY:			AKRON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44308-1890
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3303845100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		76 SOUTH MAIN ST
		CITY:			AKRON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44308-1890

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GARFIELD ARTHUR R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001127139
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-21011
		FILM NUMBER:		03707759

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FIRSTENERGY CORP
		STREET 2:		76 SOUTH MAIN STREET
		CITY:			AKRON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44308
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3307614264

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FIRSTENERGY CORP
		STREET 2:		76 SOUTH MAIN STREET
		CITY:			AKRON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44308
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001127139d20030516f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion><documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-14</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001031296</issuerCik>        <issuerName>FIRSTENERGY CORP</issuerName><issuerTradingSymbol>FE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001127139</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>GARFIELD ARTHUR R</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>        </reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>President, FE Solutions</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></r
eportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Phantom / Retirement</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>1</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-14</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>6862.84</value><footnoteId id="F8"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>33.095</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F8"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F8"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>6862.84</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurit
y><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F9"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F3">1 for 1</footnote><footnote id="F8">Due to retirement, shares awared under the performance share program are being deferred into the "Phantom/Retirement" account.  5,752.11 shares are vested (i.e. non-forfeited) immediately and 1,110.73 shares become vested (i.e. non-forfeited) on 5/1/06.</footnote><footnote id="F9">The total balance in the "Phantom/Retirement" account following the reporting of these transactions is 12,036.835.  Transcentive does not allow us to add the balances together at this time. They will be making a change to their software so this will be fixed in the future.  In addition, Mr. Garfield has 3,718.014 shares in a "Phantom-3/01
D" account, 4,623.09 shares in a "Phantom 3/02D" account, and 15,162.077 shares in a "Phantom 3/03D" account.  Mr. Garfield also has balances for Stock Options (Right to buy) presented as Exercise Price, Expiration Date, and Balance Following Reporting Period as follows:  (a) $29.82, 06/08/08, 4,901; (b) $29.87, 03/01/09, 4,233; (c) $24.28, 11/17/05, 10,000; (d) $19.3125, 03/01/10, 20,000; (e) $27.75, 11/22/10, 20,000; (f) $29.50, 05/16/11, 40,000; (g) $34.45, 04/01/12, 35,000; (h) $29.71, 03/01/13, 46,300.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Edward J. Udovich</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-16</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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