[2020 National Audit] Sung Yoon-mo: "If There Is Responsibility for Wolseong Unit 1, I Will Not Avoid It" (Comprehensive)

October 22 Mountainous Area Subcommittee National Audit... 'Wolseong Unit 1 Political Dispute' Marred by Shouting and Pointing Fingers

Sung Yun-mo, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, is seen taking an oath on the 22nd at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, during the audit of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy by the Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] "Regardless of the reasons behind the deletion of government officials' data, I regret it. However, I want to clarify that it is not true that the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy or the government exerted organized external pressure. I do not believe that the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) denied the decision to prematurely shut down Wolseong Unit 1 itself."

On the 22nd, Sung Yun-mo, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, stated this during the National Assembly audit.

Throughout about eight hours in the morning, afternoon, and evening at the National Assembly's Trade, Industry, Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups Committee (Sanjoongwi) audit session, questions continued regarding the Ministry's stance on the BAI audit of the early shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1 and the suspicion of data deletion. During the process, there were exchanges of loud voices and finger-pointing.

Minister of Industry: "If there is something I must take responsibility for, I will not avoid it"

Seong Yun-mo, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy (right), and Jeong Jae-hoon, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (left), are seen waiting for the start of the audit at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's national inspection held on the 22nd at the Industry, Trade, and Small and Medium Venture Business Committee of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. (Photo by Yonhap News)

Opposition party lawmakers bombarded Minister Sung with questions about the suspicion that Ministry officials deleted data just before the BAI audit.

Earlier, on the 20th, the BAI announced the audit results on the early shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1 and requested disciplinary action against the Ministry's responsible director and subordinate staff.

At the time of the early shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1 in 2018, the Ministry's Nuclear Industry Policy Director and secretary deleted 444 files (122 folders), causing controversy. Despite the BAI's digital forensic efforts, 120 of these files were never recovered.

Minister Sung said, "I think it is unimaginable that such an incident occurred at an individual level, and equally unimaginable that such an act could be done at the organizational (Ministry) level. If there is any responsibility I must bear as the head of the organization for this unfortunate situation, I will not evade it."

Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Considering Request for Reexamination by BAI... Minister Sung: "I Think the Audit Is Not Over"

On the 20th, when the Board of Audit and Inspection disclosed the audit results on the 'Validity of the Early Shutdown Decision of Wolseong Unit 1,' tension filled the Board of Audit and Inspection in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Minister Sung firmly stated that the Ministry has no intention of bending its nuclear phase-out policy despite the BAI audit. On the contrary, he expressed regret several times that the Ministry's message?that the BAI should properly review various factors beyond economic feasibility, such as acceptability and safety?was not adequately reflected.

In response to Rep. Koo Ja-geun of the People Power Party asking if there is any intention to reconsider the early shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1, he replied, "I am in the position of not doing so."

Minister Sung revealed that the Ministry could request a reexamination from the BAI. Considering his remark, "I think the audit is not over yet," there is a possibility that the Ministry will initiate a reexamination request after the comprehensive audit session that day.

In response to Rep. Song Gap-seok of the Democratic Party asking if the Ministry is reviewing a request for reexamination of the BAI audit on the validity of the decision to prematurely shut down Wolseong Unit 1, he said, "We are reviewing the detailed issues to decide whether to apply for a reexamination."

He added, "I understand that the official end of the audit is when the reexamination request period ends. Therefore, we (the Ministry) still consider the audit ongoing."

When Rep. Lee Soo-jin of the same party asked again if a decision on the reexamination request is being made, Minister Sung replied, "Yes, it is under review."

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

Not Policy Verification but Political Conflict... Sanjoongwi Audit Marred by 'Shouting and Finger-Pointing'

The photo shows members of the United Future Party absent from the full meeting of the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee on the afternoon of July 28. (Image source=Yonhap News)

"Why are you interrupting the procedural speech?" "You need to know the basics of the meeting." "Why are you speaking informally?" "Because you are pointing fingers." "Is finger-pointing not allowed but informal speech is?"

Ultimately, loud voices and finger-pointing were exchanged even in the Sanjoongwi audit session. The Sanjoongwi audit has been evaluated as conducting relatively rational policy verification rather than competing for clarity, but it was different in front of the 'Wolseong Unit 1 issue.'

Rep. Kim Jeong-jae of the People Power Party criticized, "(Regarding Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power's decision to prematurely shut down Wolseong Unit 1) There was 'superior bullying' from the Blue House and 'power harassment' from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, a humble public enterprise, had no choice but to kneel before their threats and intimidation."

Rep. Song expressed through a procedural speech, "I cannot help but express deep regret over Rep. Kim's questioning," and argued, "There was no content in the audit report revealing any relationship between the President and the Blue House regarding the BAI audit on the early shutdown of Wolseong Unit 1 involving Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and the Ministry."

He added, "Are the Ministry's ministers and vice ministers who came here (to the audit session) some great criminals? Such questioning is very regrettable."

Rep. Kim interrupted Rep. Song's remarks, and Rep. Song could not calm down. Afterwards, loud voices and finger-pointing were exchanged.

Between the two lawmakers, remarks such as "There are limits even in questioning" and "Where is the finger-pointing?" were made.

Unable to tolerate the situation, Lee Hak-young, Chair of Sanjoongwi, declared a recess around 11:50 a.m. This was about 40 minutes earlier than the usual end time of around 12:30 p.m. for Sanjoongwi audits.

Even after the recess declaration, lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties, including Reps. Kim and Song, raised their voices facing each other.

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