[2020 National Audit] Sung Yoon-mo "Reviewing Whether to Request Reexamination of Wolseong Unit 1 Audit"

Sung Yun-mo, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Sung Yun-mo, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, stated on the 22nd during the National Assembly audit, "We are reviewing whether to file a request for reconsideration regarding the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit of Wolseong Unit 1."

Song Gap-seok, ruling party secretary of the Industry, Trade, Small and Medium Venture Business Committee and member of the Democratic Party of Korea, asked during the afternoon audit on the 22nd, "Is the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy reviewing whether to request a reconsideration?"

Minister Sung replied, "We are examining the detailed issues to decide whether to reapply for the audit."

Earlier, on the 20th, the Board of Audit and Inspection revealed that the economic feasibility was unreasonably undervalued in the decision process to prematurely shut down Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power's Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1. They withheld judgment on the validity of the early shutdown decision.

Minister Sung said, "I understand that the official end of the audit is when the reconsideration request period ends," adding, "So, we think the audit is still ongoing."

Democratic Party member Lee Su-jin asked Minister Sung again, "Are you in the process of deciding whether to request reconsideration?"

Minister Sung answered, "Yes. We are reviewing it."

According to Article 36, Paragraph 2 of the Board of Audit and Inspection Act, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy can request reconsideration of the Board's disposition demands (notification of personnel data of former Minister Baek, disciplinary demands for two officials in the Nuclear Industry Policy Division). The request must be submitted to the Board of Audit and Inspection by November 20, one month after the disposition date (the previous day).

It is known that the Ministry intends to review again whether to file a reconsideration request after the conclusion of the National Assembly audit on the same day.

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