Cheong Wa Dae stated today (the 9th) regarding news reports that the government will make its first remittance of U.S. investment funds this month following tariff negotiations, saying, "We are in close consultations with the U.S. side regarding potential investment candidate pools."

A Cheong Wa Dae official responded to inquiries regarding the report today, saying, "We cannot confirm specific investment destinations, announcement timelines, or scales," while making the remarks.

"Discussions between South Korea and the United States are currently underway," Cheong Wa Dae added, asking for discretion in reporting considering the national interest.

Last year, South Korea pledged a total of 350 billion dollars in investments to the United States, including 150 billion dollars for shipbuilding cooperation and 200 billion dollars in strategic investments, under the condition of lowering tariffs from 25 percent to 15 percent.

The construction project for the Encinal gas-fired combined cycle power plant is strongly discussed as the first U.S. investment project, with the investment scale projected to be around 22 billion dollars.

Earlier, a media outlet reported that the government plans to announce the implementation plan for the U.S. investment project on the 18th and send the first investment funds to the U.S. on the 29th and 30th.

(Photo: Yonhap News)