Korea Zinc’s smelter construction project in Tennessee could be discussed as a potential candidate to tap a $200 billion fund dedicated to U.S.-bound investment, Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources Kim Jung-kwan said Wednesday. Addressing market concerns that the 11 trillion won ($7.4 billion) project could place a heavy financial burden on the world’s largest zinc smelter, Kim said he views the decision “positively” from his standpoint as the minister overseeing critical minerals, despite the costs involved. “The project has been strongly welcomed by the U.S. Department of Commerce,” he said. “How the U.S. investment fund might be utilized will be a subject for further discussions with the department.” He added, however, that discussions have not yet progressed to that stage, stressing that the matter remains at a preliminary level. Last month, Seoul signed a memorandum of understanding with Washington on U.S.-bound investment, under which Korea plans to establish a $200 billion fund to support commercially viable projects in the United States. Kim’s remarks are i