Jeonnam Province Progressing Smoothly in Preparing for the Normal Opening of Korea Electric Power University

Measures to Secure School Buildings

Aerial view of Korea Electric Power Corporation University. Photo by Jeonnam Province

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeollanam-do has prepared a plan to secure school buildings necessary for the Korea Electric Power Corporation University (KEPCO University) to open normally in March 2022.

According to Jeollanam-do on the 17th, since the KEPCO University site was confirmed in January last year, repeated consultations have been held with KEPCO regarding the plan to secure school buildings for KEPCO University.

Earlier, KEPCO received the Ministry of Education’s ‘School Corporation Establishment Permit’ in April this year on the condition of constructing the minimum required school building area for opening (20,000㎡) in a ‘modular’ form according to the ‘University Establishment and Operation Regulations.’ However, in July, ‘DA Architects Office,’ contracted as the architectural design firm for KEPCO University, presented the opinion to KEPCO that even with the ‘modular’ method, constructing the school building by March 2022 would be impossible.

Accordingly, Jeollanam-do and KEPCO have been reviewing various plans such as constructing the core facilities necessary for opening and utilizing part of the Energy New Technology Research Institute, scheduled to be completed in September next year in the Naju Innovation Industrial Complex, as a leased school building.

As a result, it was decided to proceed with the main school building area required for opening (4,000㎡) using a general construction method, and to prioritize securing 4,000㎡, which is a part of Phase 1’s 31,000㎡ (total 146,000㎡ across Phases 1, 2, and 3), before the opening.

Thus, the core facilities of Phase 1 building (4 floors above ground, 1 basement floor) covering 4,000㎡ will be completed by May next year, and the remaining 27,000㎡ will begin construction in July next year.

Additionally, part of the Energy New Technology Research Institute (1,500㎡ or 3,000㎡), scheduled for completion in September next year, will also be used as a leased school building.

The core facilities for opening will include the president’s office, administrative office, and lecture rooms.

The 2022 enrollment quota for KEPCO University is 350 students (100 undergraduate, 200 master’s, 50 doctoral), with the main school building accommodating 200 students and the leased school building accommodating 150 students.

KEPCO plans to resolve workspace issues for some researchers (79 out of 229) affected by the use of part of the Energy New Technology Research Institute as a leased school building by renting space at KEPCO headquarters and nearby buildings, and constructing temporary facilities within the Energy New Technology Research Institute site.

KEPCO also intends to shorten the completion schedule for Phase 1 campus construction from the originally planned January 2024 to July 2023, and to obtain temporary use approval by March 2023 to minimize the leased school building usage period.

To open the university in this manner, special provisions regarding school building establishment and leased school building utilization are required in the special law.

Considering the tight timeline until the opening, the special law will be promoted through ‘legislator-initiated legislation.’

National Assembly member Shin Jeong-hoon is preparing to introduce the special law as a representative bill within next month.

Meanwhile, Booyoung Housing plans to cease operations of Booyoung Country Club within this month and transplant the grass and trees of the golf course within the KEPCO University site starting next month. Employees affected by the closure of Booyoung Country Club will be reassigned to nearby golf courses operated by Booyoung in Suncheon, Muju, and other locations.

Jeollanam-do and KEPCO completed consultations with the National Balanced Development Committee on the 16th regarding these plans and will report to the Gwangju-Jeonnam Pan-City and Provincial Citizens Support Committee for KEPCO University establishment on the 21st.

KEPCO has decided to have the school corporation KEPCO University board of directors approve this as soon as possible.

Thus, concerns about securing school buildings necessary for the opening of KEPCO University have been resolved.

Ji Young-bae, head of the KEPCO University Establishment Support Group at Jeollanam-do, said, “Jeollanam-do, together with Naju City, will fully support completing the construction permits and temporary use approvals for Phase 1 facilities of KEPCO University within a short period.”