South Korean President pressured officials to accelerate East Sea gas drilling

An audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection has revealed that President Yoon Suk Yeol pressured the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to accelerate the drilling schedule for the ‘Great Whale Project’ in the East Sea to ensure completion within his presidential term.

According to the audit results released on September 16, the Ministry had originally planned to conduct the first drilling in late 2024 and complete four additional wells by 2029. However, the Presidential Office demanded the schedule be moved up to May 2027. When the Ministry expressed difficulty with this timeline, President Yoon reportedly dismissed concerns regarding the need for ‘political judgment,’ stating, “I am the one who makes political judgments,” and ordered a revised plan.

The audit also noted that the administration proceeded with a major public announcement in June 2024 regarding the potential for up to 14 billion barrels of oil and gas near Yeongil Bay, despite the Ministry’s warnings that the probability of success was highly uncertain, at less than 20%. This announcement occurred during a period of low presidential approval ratings following significant political challenges.