"The Crooked Pine That Protects Its Hometown"... President Hong Eui-rak on Korea Gas Corporation

"Gas is Electricity"
From Fuel to ‘Bridge Energy’ Supporting the Power Grid

Beyond LNG to Hydrogen and AI
"Connecting the Future of Energy"

On-site from Day One
"Both Energy Security and AI Innovation Are Achieved in the Field"

Hong Eui-rak, President of Korea Gas Corporation.

Hong Eui-rak, President of Korea Gas Corporation, has continuously repeated the phrase "Gas is electricity" since taking office. By this, he means to redefine natural gas not merely as a fossil fuel, but as a "mainstay of electricity" that will respond to the expansion of renewable energy and the increasing demand for electricity in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). He also envisions transforming Korea Gas Corporation’s role from a traditional public company that imports and supplies LNG into a platform company connecting the future of Korea's energy sector.

According to Korea Gas Corporation on August 10, President Hong recently posted on his Facebook page, "Since becoming the President of Korea Gas Corporation, the phrase I use most often is ‘Gas is electricity.’" He emphasized, "Many people think of gas as a fuel like oil, but in the AI era, gas is different—gas is a key energy source that enables stable electricity supply." His reasoning is that as the share of renewables grows, the role of gas becomes ever more crucial, because electricity must never be interrupted, even when the sun is not shining or the wind is not blowing.

President Hong’s perspective on gas was also clearly reflected in his inaugural address on July 29. As his first statement upon taking office, he pledged to "connect Korea’s energy future" and presented three strategic directions for the corporation: enhancing its status and value, establishing its role as a bridge energy, and redesigning the company as an AI-based energy platform enterprise. In particular, he characterized natural gas as a "bridge energy" that complements renewables. For President Hong, gas should not serve merely as a transitional fuel on the path toward carbon neutrality, but should be a core energy source that supports the stability of the power system.

On Facebook, President Hong further described gas as "not one that stands in the spotlight, but a presence that steadily supports the power grid from behind." He called it "the most reliable mainstay that sustains the nation’s energy system, even if it is not always visible." He also likened his perception of Korea Gas Corporation to "a crooked pine tree that protects its hometown"—even if it is bent, it does not fall; although not standing at the forefront, it steadfastly remains in its place, providing people with comfort and reassurance. Similarly, he stressed that Korea Gas Corporation should quietly serve as a pillar during the energy transition process.

In his inaugural address, President Hong recognized the accumulated LNG value chain, nationwide supply network, and global business experience cultivated over decades as national assets. He further emphasized the need to use these strengths as a foundation for future growth drivers. In particular, he stressed that while everyone is focusing on expanding wind and solar power, Korea Gas Corporation must also prepare for hydrogen. According to him, "the LNG infrastructure, technology, and operational experience we are building today will become the most solid foundation for the future hydrogen economy." AI, too, is a core axis of the transformation President Hong envisions for Korea Gas Corporation. He plans to utilize AI and data to advance demand forecasting, supply chain operations, and global trading, and to redesign Korea Gas Corporation as an "AI Native Energy Company," that is, an energy platform business with AI at its core.

Demonstrating that these changes are more than just words, President Hong visited field sites from his very first day in office. Immediately after the inauguration ceremony, he toured each department at headquarters to meet employees, listened to feedback from a broad range of staff including the labor union and newly hired workers over lunch, and then went on to inspect the central control room where he reviewed LNG supply and emergency response systems in light of geopolitical risks in the Middle East. He checked cyber response and AI transition status at the Cyber Security Control Center and Information Systems Office, and examined gas supply facilities and safety management systems at the Dongnae Supply Management Center to ensure preparedness for heat waves and heavy rain. At each site, President Hong emphasized, "Both energy security and AI innovation are ultimately completed in safe field environments." He concluded his Facebook post by stating, "Gas is not the energy of the past. Gas protects electricity, prepares for hydrogen, and serves as the energy that links the future of Korea's energy sector."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.