Trump Unveils $200 Billion South Korean Investment in US Projects
South Korean investment in the United States is moving into a new phase after President Donald Trump announced plans for up to $200 billion in Korean investment across U.S. energy and infrastructure projects.
The package announced on September 30, 2026 includes about $54 billion for the long-planned Alaska LNG project, eight large-scale nuclear power plants and a 6-gigawatt power generation facility in Texas.
South Korean investment in the United States reaches $200 billion
Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said agreements secured with the Republic of Korea would result in up to $200 billion of investment in U.S. projects.
The announcement represents the first major group of projects under a broader $350 billion investment framework South Korea committed to as part of its trade agreement with Washington.
That broader package consists of $150 billion dedicated to shipbuilding and $200 billion in strategic investments.
$54 billion for Alaska LNG
The largest single project highlighted in the announcement is approximately $54 billion for Alaska LNG, a long-discussed natural gas development that has faced years of uncertainty over financing, cost and commercial viability.
The project includes an 807-mile, or 1,299-kilometer, pipeline designed to carry natural gas from Alaska’s North Slope to a liquefaction facility on the state’s southern coast.
According to figures cited by Reuters from the White House, the project is designed to transport about 3.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day and produce up to 20 million metric tons of LNG annually.
Eight nuclear plants are also included
Trump said the Korean investment package would also include the construction of eight large-scale nuclear power plants.
The projects come as U.S. electricity demand rises because of data centers, advanced manufacturing and other power-intensive industries.
South Korea has previously discussed investment in U.S. nuclear projects under the broader strategic investment framework.
A 6-gigawatt Texas power project
The plan also includes a more than 6-gigawatt gas-fired power facility in Encinal, Texas.
South Korea’s industry ministry had previously identified the project as the first selected under the $200 billion strategic investment program.
The facility is expected to supply electricity to energy-intensive operations including semiconductor plants and data centers.
Commercial questions remain over Alaska LNG
Despite the scale of the announcement, significant commercial questions remain around Alaska LNG.
Reuters reported that the project has faced years of uncertainty over cost, financing and commercial viability, while Seoul has said investments under the U.S. package must meet commercial viability standards.
South Korean opposition lawmakers have also raised concerns over the financial risks of committing public resources to large U.S. projects.
Is Alaska LNG fully financed?
The announcement does not mean that Alaska LNG is fully financed or that every proposed investment has become a final binding commitment.
Developer Glenfarne said earlier this year that it had secured commitments for about 13 million metric tons of LNG a year but still needed additional commitments to secure project financing.
Japan’s JERA and Tokyo Gas have also signed preliminary agreements to purchase a combined 2 million metric tons of LNG annually if the project is built.
From a $350 billion commitment to specific projects
The latest announcement gives more detail to the broader U.S.-South Korea investment agreement reached previously.
The framework allocated $150 billion to shipbuilding and another $200 billion to strategic investments in the United States.
The September 30 announcement identifies some of the projects that could receive that strategic investment, led by Alaska LNG, nuclear power and the Texas generation facility.
As South Korean investment in the United States moves from broad commitments toward named projects, financing, commercial viability and implementation will determine how much of the announced package ultimately becomes operational infrastructure.
Read :South Korean stocks rise 61% year-to-date in 2025, raising questions about sustainability
Sources
Reuters — $200 billion South Korean investment announcement, Alaska LNG, nuclear projects and Texas power facility — September 30, 2026.
The White House — U.S.-South Korea $350 billion strategic investment framework.
