As the first private businesses in South Korea , Daewoo International and STX Energy will participate in developing the country ’ s continental shelf . The Ministry of Knowledge Economy ( MKE ) said that it granted approval for private companies to explore the No . 6 - 1 offshore mine under the East Sea in a meeting on development projects of oceanic minerals on Monday . The approval allows private companies like Daewoo International and STX Energy to take part in the national continental shelf development project , which has been solely led by Korea National Oil Corporation ( KNOC ) since withdrawal of a foreign - based company Kirkland in 1994 . Daewoo International will join the development project with KNOC as the main operator of the southern part of the 6 - 1 mine . The central part of the mine is planned to be co - developed by KNOC and STX Energy , the MKE said . The MKE said it plans to embark on exploration of the continental shelf after signing contracts on developing unwrought metals in two exploratory sites within September . Korea has drilled a total of 44 exploratory holes within the continental shelf at home . After the discovery of a gas field with economic feasibility in the 6 - 1 mine lot in 1998 , the country has been producing 60 million feet 3 of natural gas per day since 2004 , an equivalent to a daily consumption of 80 , 000 households . [ Written by Su - hwan Chae - Su - hyun Song / edited by Soyoung Chung ] ▶ [ 화보 ] 실격 당해 울 고 싶 은 ` 번개 ` 우사인 볼트 ▶ 불경기 의 먹구름 이 몰려온다 ▶ 손연재 ‘ 미스 토너먼트 ’ 선정 , 베를린 도 손연재 매력 에 ‘ 풍덩 ’▶ 삼 성판 카카오톡 출시 소식 에 관심 ↑… 무슨 기능 있 을까 ? ▶ 비욘세 임신 “ 아들 이 든 딸 이 든 얼굴 은 제발 엄마 닮 길 ! ”