<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0407</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2023-06-01</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2023-06-05</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001031296</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRSTENERGY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001423515</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TIERNEY BRIAN X</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>76 S. MAIN ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>AKRON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44308</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>0</aff10b5One>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2023-06-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>134753</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>37.105</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>134753</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock was granted pursuant to an award agreement effective on June 1, 2023.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The original Form 4, filed on June 5, 2023, is being amended by this Form 4 amendment to correct the reporting person's address. All other information in the original Form 4 was correct and remains unchanged following this amendment. This Form 4 amendment re-reports the transaction reported in the original Form 4, filed on June 5, 2023; no additional shares were acquired by the reporting person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Daniel M. Dunlap, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-06-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
