Government's Response to South Korea's Request for LNG Supply
The government has responded to South Korea’s request regarding supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and coal from Indonesia. In a bilateral meeting with President Prabowo Subianto, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung raised the need for energy in the form of LNG and coal, stemming from the heating geopolitical situation in West Asia.
Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto said the government will discuss South Korea’s request further. This is because domestic needs, particularly for LNG, are also increasing. “Of course, this will be a separate matter, because our domestic demand for LNG is indeed rising,” Airlangga said after attending the Indonesia-Korea Partnership for Resilient Growth forum in Seoul on Wednesday, 1 April 2026, quoted from a video statement by the Presidential Secretariat.
Airlangga explained that South Korea’s energy needs still rely on supplies from countries in West Asia. Meanwhile, West Asia remains turbulent due to the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran.
Therefore, Airlangga said, South Korea sees an alternative that can be supported by Indonesia. “Korea, which relies on the Middle East for 70 percent of its energy, feels that there is alternative energy that can be assisted by Indonesia, namely related to LNG and coal supplies,” Airlangga stated.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung previously expressed his desire to enhance cooperation in the energy sector with Indonesia, amid global uncertainties due to the West Asia war. President Lee conveyed this directly to President Prabowo Subianto during a bilateral meeting at the Blue House, or South Korea’s Presidential Palace, in Seoul on Wednesday, 1 April 2026.
Lee explained that over more than 50 years of diplomatic relations, Indonesia and South Korea have become valuable friends and partners. “Amid global uncertainties and various challenges, Korea and Indonesia are a blessing to each other,” President Lee said, quoted from a video uploaded to the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel.
According to Lee, in this rapidly changing global order, cooperation between the two countries that share the same values will be very important, especially given the situation in West Asia. “We feel very reassured knowing that Indonesia provides LNG and coal to Korea very stably,” Lee stated.
Therefore, Lee wants Indonesia and South Korea to expand cooperation in stable energy supplies and resource security. This is to minimise the impact of the crisis on the economy and people’s lives.
“Cooperation between our two countries, which share values of democracy, free trade, and a rules-based order, will shine brightly, especially in crisis situations like now,” President Lee said.