"KEPCO Admits Nuclear Phase-Out Effects Will Begin in 2025"
"Anger Over Political Approach Demonizing Previous Government in Everything"
[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Park Yong-jin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, refuted the People Power Party's claim that Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) is running a deficit due to the Moon Jae-in administration's nuclear phase-out policy. Regarding the criticism that the Moon administration did not approve electricity rate hikes, he argued that the delay in the April increase was due to President Yoon Suk-yeol's campaign pledge.
On the 28th, Park stated on social networking services (SNS), "Yesterday, People Power Party Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong condemned the Moon Jae-in administration, saying that KEPCO's deficit reached 30 trillion won because of the nuclear phase-out policy, and that the previous government requested electricity rate hikes 10 times but only got approval once," adding, "I cannot help but laugh."
He said, "KEPCO had already planned an electricity rate increase in April during the previous administration, but due to President Yoon Suk-yeol's pledge to freeze electricity rates and his announcement to cancel the April rate hike, the increase was suddenly postponed after Yoon's election. If they had any decency, instead of blaming the previous government, they should first apologize to the public and feel ashamed for breaking the pledge to freeze electricity rates just six weeks after taking office, which was announced last January."
Regarding the claim that the nuclear phase-out triggered electricity rate hikes, Park said, "During last year's national audit, KEPCO President Jeong Seung-il stated, 'The nuclear power plant capacity will continue to increase until 2025, and the current rate hikes are unrelated to the reduction of nuclear power. The so-called effects of the nuclear phase-out will appear after 2025.' So, are they suddenly saying that the electricity rate hikes are due to the Moon administration's nuclear phase-out policy just because the administration changed?"
Park added, "How can the public trust the ruling party and President Yoon Suk-yeol if political strife is brought into discussions about such an important livelihood issue as electricity rates? I cannot help but feel concern and anger at this kind of political approach that demonizes the previous government in every matter and behaves like a gangster."
He concluded, "I sincerely hope they abandon their irresponsible grudge against the previous administration and first find a conscience for governance."
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