Korean court dismisses indigenous challenge to Australian ECA gas project financing

(Global Trade Review, London, 25 May 2022) A South Korean court has dismissed an application by traditional owners in Australia for an injunction to prevent South Korean public finance institutions from supporting a proposed gas export project. Representatives of the Tiwi Islander and Larrakia indigenous peoples in northern Australia launched legal proceedings in March to stop the South Korea Export-Import Bank (Kexim) and export credit insurer K-Sure from extending A$964mn (US$725mn) in financing and insurance to the Barossa gas project. But this week Seoul’s Central District Court threw out the application,