Presidential Office: "Czech Republic, No Alternative Outside Korea in Mind"... Emphasis on Final Nuclear Power Plant Contract

President Yoon Suk-yeol is applauding after concluding the joint press conference between Korea and the Czech Republic with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala at the Czech government office in Prague on the 20th (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 20th (local time), the Presidential Office stated, "(Czech Republic) has absolutely no alternative in mind other than Korea for building the Dukovany nuclear power plant," and anticipated that the final contract would be smoothly concluded by March next year.

A senior official from the Presidential Office met with reporters at the local press center in the Czech Republic on the same day and said, "After long conversations with the Czech Prime Minister, President, and cabinet officials, what I felt was that there is currently no alternative in their minds other than Korea as a partner to build Dukovany."

He continued, "There is no other scenario they are considering, so they were full of confidence that a 'win-win' cooperative relationship must be created here."

The official also added, "Both countries earnestly hope to successfully conclude this and to establish a strong partnership in the nuclear alliance for decades to come, extending into other comprehensive strategic industrial sectors."

The Presidential Office official also mentioned that the Czech side hopes for about a 60% participation rate of their domestic companies in the new nuclear power plant construction project.

The official said, "Czech leaders are saying that, considering the creation of over 15,000 local jobs already, more investment is expected in the future," and added, "When viewing the entire process as 100, the Czech side hopes that about 60 of that can be participated in by Czech companies."

He continued, "It is not something that must be strictly adhered to, but if plans among companies, public institutions, and relevant ministries of both countries smoothly integrate within a cooperative mechanism, localization that satisfies the Czech side can be achieved."

Meanwhile, during President Yoon's official visit to the Czech Republic, a total of 56 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and documents were signed between the governments, institutions, and private sectors of both countries.