[Anchor]
The government has briefed the ruling party on the details of the U.S. investment negotiations. It is expected that the final memorandum of understanding will include plans to build eight nuclear power plants and a Texas gas combined-cycle power plant, as previously discussed.
Reporter Kang Min-u has the details.
[Reporter]
The government reported the broad framework of the business direction to the ruling party yesterday (September 7) during a closed-door party-government consultative meeting.
According to ruling bloc officials, the government reported on three initiatives: constructing nuclear power plants in the U.S., building a gas combined-cycle power plant, and participating in the Alaska LNG project.
First, regarding nuclear power, the MOU is projected to include the "construction of a total of eight nuclear reactors in the U.S.," as emerged during the prior negotiation process.
However, variables remain until a final agreement is reached, as the U.S. side has demanded acquiring a stake in Westinghouse and building all eight reactors using Westinghouse's "AP1000" model, while the South Korean side has countered that at least two must be built using Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power's "APR1400" to secure "commercial rationality."
The construction of the Texas gas combined-cycle power plant is valued at 30 trillion won, which was reported to be an increase of 3 trillion won from previous projections.
This effectively solidifies it as the "No. 1 project."
It was also learned that participation in the Alaska LNG pipeline project, requested by the U.S. side, will be included in this MOU.
Nonetheless, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy stated that specific details of the U.S. investment, including whether it will be designated as the No. 1 project, have not yet been finalized.
This is interpreted as a calculation to hold back South Korea's cards until the very end, considering semiconductor variables such as tariffs and local investment demands from the U.S., as well as the aggressive and unpredictable negotiation style characteristic of the U.S. Trump administration.
The government plans to sign the U.S. investment MOU as early as September 18, and the tug-of-war between South Korea and the U.S. is expected to continue right up until the final agreement.
(Camera reporting: Jung Sang-bo | Video editing: Won Hyung-hee | Design: Lee Ga-jin)
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