[2020 National Audit] Hanwoolwon President: "If the Board of Audit holds responsibility for Wolseong Unit 1, I will take responsibility" (Comprehensive)

15th Mountain Committee National Audit
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[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Jeong Jae-hoon, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), stated on the 15th that he would take responsibility if the Board of Audit and Inspection holds him accountable for the early shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1.

At the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee's audit on the same day, when Kwon Myung-ho of the People Power Party pointed out that "if the audit results conclude that the early shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1 was not justified, the president should also be held responsible," Jeong responded, "If I must be legally responsible, I will certainly take responsibility."

When Eom Tae-young, also of the People Power Party, repeatedly confirmed, "I understood that you meant you would resign if you had to take responsibility," Jeong said, "If I have to take responsibility, I will definitely do so," but added, "Let's wait for the audit results."

Regarding Kwon's question about whether he had prior consultation with the Blue House or government since before his appointment about the early shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1 and the cancellation of new nuclear power plant construction, Jeong answered, "I have never done that."

Jeong emphasized, "The early shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1 was a comprehensive review of government policy cooperation, regulatory environment, social acceptance, and economic feasibility," adding, "The decision to halt was made to minimize uncertainty, and this was explained at the board meeting."

Then Kwon asked, "The administration is a single five-year term, but if the next administration takes government policy in a different direction, will you follow that as well?" Jeong replied, "Public enterprises must cooperate with government policies."

At the audit session, Dr. Park Seong-deok from Seoul National University's Nuclear Policy Center, active in the Anti-Nuclear Phase-Out Citizens' Group, appeared as a reference witness for the opposition party and raised suspicions that the economic feasibility evaluation was manipulated during the discussion of the early shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1.

Dr. Park claimed, based on KakaoTalk group chat contents received from a whistleblower, that "during two meetings involving the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, KHNP, and accounting firm officials regarding the draft economic feasibility evaluation of Wolseong Unit 1 by the accounting firm, there was discussion about changing the input variables used in the economic evaluation," adding, "As a result, the draft showed an economic feasibility figure of 177.8 billion KRW, but the final version was lowered to 22.4 billion KRW."

Choi Seung-jae of the People Power Party raised his voice, saying, "There is clear evidence that the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KHNP were involved in manipulating the economic feasibility evaluation."

In response, Jeong said, "The CEO does not know all the meetings held among the staff," and added, "The term 'manipulation' was used, but the audit results will be out soon, so please wait."

Jeong also responded to Eom's remark that "KHNP, which is leaning towards solar and wind power due to the nuclear phase-out, should change its corporate name to 'Hansuta,'" saying, "That is an insulting comment. Please note that nuclear power accounts for 97% of KHNP's portfolio."

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