225 Professors from the Korean Association of Education and Research "Postponement of Wolseong Unit 1 Audit is Illegal... Auditor General Ignores National Assembly Act"

"Responsibility Must Be Held for Those Related to Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy"

The photo shows members of the Nuclear Workers' Union Solidarity holding a press conference opposing the early shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1 in front of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on November 22 last year. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The 'Professors' Council for Rationalizing Energy Policy' (P-CREP), consisting of 225 professors from 61 universities nationwide, criticized the Board of Audit and Inspection's decision to postpone the announcement of the audit results on Wolseong Unit 1 as illegal. Regarding officials from Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, they urged accountability, stating that they "systematically concealed the attempt to prematurely shut down Wolseong Unit 1 and distorted the economic feasibility evaluation."

On the 25th, P-CREP stated in a press release, "The Board of Audit and Inspection must announce the audit results on the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power board's decision to permanently shut down Wolseong Unit 1 by the end of this month, the deadline set by the National Assembly Act," adding, "The Board of Audit and Inspection President's decision to indefinitely postpone the announcement is a clear illegal political act, breach of duty, and deception of the public."

Earlier, on the 19th, Board of Audit and Inspection President Choi Jae-hyung said at a press briefing, "It has become difficult to announce the audit results related to the premature shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1 by the legal deadline at the end of this month," explaining, "In the initial phase, there was insufficient submission of materials, and as the staff conducted forensic analysis on the computers of the audit subjects, such as Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power employees, the substantive audit was only completed on the 22nd of last month."

P-CREP argued, "The Board of Audit and Inspection President's announcement to indefinitely postpone the reporting of audit results on the National Assembly's legitimate audit request, citing the absurd reason that 'the matter is complicated,' is a direct violation of the National Assembly Act," and added, "The deadline for submitting the audit report is stipulated by the National Assembly Act and cannot be arbitrarily extended by the Board of Audit and Inspection President."

P-CREP raised their voice, saying, "It is a serious state misconduct for the Board of Audit and Inspection, a quasi-judicial institution, to openly disregard the National Assembly Act, for which the President of the Board must take responsibility."

According to Article 127-2 of the National Assembly Act, the Board of Audit and Inspection must report the audit results to the National Assembly within three months from the date of the audit request. If the audit cannot be completed within the period due to special reasons, an extension can be requested after an interim report, but only up to two months. The end of this month marks five months since the National Assembly's audit request regarding the premature shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1.

P-CREP stated, "It was sufficient grounds for suspicion that the Board of Audit and Inspection President, who oversees the executive branch as a constitutional institution, unusually met with the Prime Minister and promoted officials from the Prime Minister's Office to audit commissioners, then announced the indefinite postponement of the audit results report, which undermines the authority and independence of the Board of Audit and Inspection," and demanded, "The President of the Board must clearly apologize and promise to prevent recurrence for seriously damaging the authority and independence of the Board through political actions."

They continued, "Heavy responsibility must also be held accountable for the officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power who deceived the public and endangered the nation's key industries."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.