EU Exempts Korea from Russian LNG Sanctions

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung welcomed news that the European Union has exempted Korea from sanctions on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, calling it 'good news' for people's daily lives and the economy.

The EU Council adopted its 21st sanctions package against Russia on July 23rd, which included an exception rule allowing imports of LNG produced in the Sakhalin II project in Russia to Korea and Japan until March 31, 2028.

President Lee had previously discussed the issue with EU leaders, explaining that exceptional permission was necessary for energy security and requesting their attention. He has since departed on a tour of the United States and South America, where he met with big tech CEOs to discuss artificial intelligence cooperation.