Rep. Jang Donghyeok: "Employment Measures Will Be Prepared for Coal Power Phase-Out"

Jang Donghyuk/ Yonhap News

Jang Donghyuk, a member of the National Assembly from the People Power Party (representing Boryeong and Seocheon in South Chungcheong Province), announced on the 21st that he held a meeting at the Boryeong Party Association office on the 20th to discuss measures addressing employment instability caused by the closure of Boryeong Thermal Power Plant's coal-fired facilities.

Units 5 and 6 of the Boryeong Thermal Power Plant are scheduled to be decommissioned in 2026, and about 30 members of the Korea Power Industry Development labor union attended the meeting.

The union members expressed concerns, saying, "The closure of thermal power plants such as Boryeong Thermal Power Plant is raising fears of job losses among workers," and requested, "Please make efforts to help us find alternative jobs through employment transfers and retraining."

Jang stated, "The employment instability caused by the closure of coal-fired power plants could directly lead to a vicious cycle of population decline, economic stagnation, and reduced tax revenue, severely impacting the local economy. Through the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee and other channels, I will work together to develop measures for employment stability."

Meanwhile, after the early closure of Units 1 and 2 of Boryeong Thermal Power Plant in 2020, Boryeong's population fell below 100,000, and the city reportedly suffered economic losses including an annual decrease of about 4 billion KRW in tax revenue and 19 billion KRW in consumer spending.