The Jeonnam Provincial Council called the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit of Korea Energy Engineering University a political retaliation and urged the suspension of the audit.
On the afternoon of the 13th, members of the Jeonnam Provincial Council held a press conference at the Jeonnam Provincial Council briefing room and issued a joint statement urging the suspension of the audit, claiming that "the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit of Korea Energy Engineering University is a political audit that fails to see the development and future of the Republic of Korea and is an extension of the previous administration's political purge."
The Jeonnam Provincial Council urged the Board of Audit and Inspection to halt the audit on the establishment of the Korea Energy University by KEPCO. Photo by Jeonnam Provincial Council
They stated, "Korea Energy Engineering University was lawfully established under the 'Korea Energy Engineering University Act,' which was enacted through bipartisan agreement during the previous administration," and added, "It is a university established to respond to the era of carbon neutrality and energy transition, to foster national-level energy research and development, nurture new energy industries, and cultivate creative talents."
They continued, "Currently, due to the rapidly progressing population decline causing regional extinction and the crisis of local universities, national-level measures are urgently needed," and added, "Although Korea Energy Engineering University opened in March 2022, in a short period it has become a ray of hope for the collapsing regional education through two consecutive years of high admission competition rates and attracting excellent professors and students."
They also argued, "It is not simply about establishing a university in the region, but it is a new growth engine that will lead the future of the Republic of Korea in the era of energy crisis, as well as a solution to balanced national development and regional extinction."
Furthermore, they pointed out, "The ongoing audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection is being conducted solely based on the flimsy audit request from so-called conservative groups," and stated, "The current government should focus on pressing issues such as the climate change crisis, energy crisis, livelihood economy crisis, population decline, and regional extinction rather than shaking Korea Energy Engineering University, which was lawfully and fairly established at the national level."
They concluded, "The Yoon Suk-yeol administration should not use Korea Energy Engineering University as a tool for political retaliation against the previous administration," and urged, "The Board of Audit and Inspection must immediately stop the audit that is damaging the honor of the 2 million residents of Jeonnam."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
