[Stock in Focus] HiSteel Surges on Hopes for Korean Participation in US-Japan LNG Project Collaboration

HiSteel shares are showing strong performance. This is interpreted as being influenced by expectations that South Korea may also participate in U.S. LNG projects, following news that the United States and Japan will make a joint investment in liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Alaska.

As of 2:28 p.m. on July 23, HiSteel is trading at 5,400 won, up 21.35% from the previous day.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the previous day that a trade agreement had been reached with Japan, and revealed that Japan plans to make a joint LNG investment with the United States in Alaska.

The Alaska LNG development project involves transporting natural gas produced in the northernmost part of Alaska to the south via a pipeline approximately 1,300 kilometers long, liquefying it, and then exporting it to Asia and other regions. Previously, there had been suggestions that South Korea could participate in the U.S. Alaska LNG project alongside Japan.

Meanwhile, HiSteel, a steel pipe manufacturing company, is reported to have received a "zero dumping" decision from the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) regarding thick-walled square pipes (structural pipes). Having avoided U.S. tariff risks due to the absence of anti-dumping findings, HiSteel is now seen as being able to target the Alaska LNG development project with its high-manganese steel pipe technology, which was developed to withstand extremely low temperatures of minus 196 degrees Celsius.