South Korea's industry ministry stated on Friday that its minister, citing energy security concerns, has formally requested that Britain exempt Seoul's liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Russia from its forthcoming sanctions package. The request was made during a video conference between South Korean Industry Minister Park Jung-sung and UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, as detailed in a ministry press release.

Britain plans to ban maritime transportation, insurance, and related support services for Russian LNG starting in January 2027. Park Jung-sung emphasized that these measures could potentially threaten South Korea's energy security and undermine the stability of its LNG supply chain.

According to the ministry, without obtaining an exemption, the sanctions could disrupt the import operations of Korea Gas Corp (KOGAS). The state-run entity maintains long-term contracts to purchase LNG from the Sakhalin-2 oil and gas project on Russia's Pacific coast, with the agreement remaining valid until March 2028. The ministry added that if British insurers cease providing reinsurance and other related services for this procurement contract, the associated LNG transportation and deliveries would also face significant disruptions.