White House claims South Korea to invest $54 billion in Alaska LNG

White House Press Secretary Katie Zakariou announced during her first official briefing that South Korea will invest $54 billion in the construction of an Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) pipeline and terminal. Zakariou described a broader energy investment package from South Korea totaling up to $200 billion, which includes up to $120 billion for the construction of eight large-scale nuclear power plants. Additionally, she noted $22.3 billion is designated for a 6-gigawatt natural gas power plant in Texas.

However, the South Korean government has provided a different perspective on these figures. While the construction of the Texas gas plant has been confirmed, officials stated that the other two major projects—the nuclear plants and the Alaska LNG development—require further discussions to verify commercial viability. The South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy emphasized that the Alaska project is currently in the review stage and no final investment decision has been made. President Lee Jae-myung also noted via social media that such projects would only proceed if commercial feasibility is confirmed and legal procedures are met.