[2020 National Audit] Jeong Jae-hoon: "No Manipulation Expression in the Board of Audit Report on Wolseong Unit 1"

October 23 Science and ICT Committee Audit... Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power CEO Denies Involvement in Ministry of Industry and KHNP Economic Feasibility Manipulation
Ruling Party: "Include Spent Nuclear Fuel Management and Accident Management Costs in New Economic Feasibility Indicator" Jeong Jae-hoon: "That Should Be Done"

Jaehoon Jung, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, appears at the Comprehensive Audit of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee held at the National Assembly on the 23rd, responding to questions from lawmakers. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] "The Board of Audit and Inspection report does not contain the term 'manipulation' anywhere."

Jung Jae-hoon, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), stated this on the 23rd during the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee's audit.

"Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KHNP Did Not Manipulate the Economic Feasibility of Wolseong Unit 1"

Hwang Bo-seung-hee, a member of the People Power Party, is seen questioning Jeong Jae-hoon, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, during the comprehensive audit of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee held at the National Assembly on the 23rd. (Photo by Yonhap News)

President Jung responded, when People Power Party lawmaker Hwang Bo-seung-hee asked, "Yesterday, Minister Sung Yun-mo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy answered that 'the economic feasibility evaluation process was not manipulated.' Do you think the Ministry did not manipulate the economic feasibility evaluation?" by saying, "The Board of Audit and Inspection report does not contain the term 'manipulation' anywhere."

When Lawmaker Hwang asked again, "Did KHNP also participate in manipulation?" he replied, "That did not happen."

President Jung explained, "The variables that changed the economic feasibility evaluation from about 370 billion KRW to 22.4 billion KRW were two: 'implementation rate' and 'mid-to-long-term sales price.' If you read the audit report carefully, it states that changing the implementation rate from 85% to 60% 'cannot be judged as strange.'

He continued, "Regarding the mid-to-long-term sales price, the Board of Audit and Inspection initially said it was 'absurd,' but later said, 'There are respective sales prices for the previous year and mid-to-long-term sales prices, but according to the Board's opinion, using the mid-to-long-term sales price is unreasonable.' They added, 'Depending on how variables are judged, the results can vary greatly, so in the future, criteria should be established on which variables to use,'" he added.

"Spent Nuclear Fuel Management Costs and Severe Accident Management Costs Also Included in New Economic Feasibility Indicators"

Jung Jae-hoon, President of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (left), and Eom Jae-sik, Chairman of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, attend and converse at the Comprehensive National Audit of the Science, Technology, Information and Communication Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 23rd. (Photo by Yonhap News)

Han Jun-ho, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, asked Eom Jae-sik, Chairman of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, "Following the 2015 legal amendment, was it required to submit accident management plans including severe accidents for all nuclear power plants by June 2019?"

Chairman Eom answered, "Yes. Various facility reinforcement measures have been implemented so far, but since 2015, accident management strategies, response facilities, and preventive facilities including severe accidents must be established. Overall, there are parts that can somewhat affect cost increases. Specifically, KHNP's response will be needed," he said.

Lawmaker Han asked President Jung, "What do you think about the cost aspect if accident management plan costs are included in the economic feasibility evaluation?"

President Jung replied, "It varies by reactor, but the latest models will cost less, and older plants will naturally cost more. It will be several billion KRW," he said.

Lawmaker Han asked again, "If such factors are included, is it possible that the sales price per 1kWh of 55 KRW calculated by KHNP was set somewhat high?"

President Jung answered, "There might be some changes," he said.

Lawmaker Han asked, "The Board of Audit and Inspection said to revise the economic feasibility evaluation guidelines. When preparing the new guidelines this time, do you think that not only nuclear power plant operation rates and electricity sales prices but also spent nuclear fuel management costs and accident management plan-related costs should be included?"

President Jung answered, "Yes. I think that should be done."

Disorder at the Science and ICT Committee Audit... Jung Jae-hoon 'Lawmaker Also Perjured' Remark Provokes Outrage

President Jaehoon of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power attended the comprehensive audit of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee held at the National Assembly on the 23rd. In response to a question from Hwang Bo-seunghee, a member of the People Power Party, he said, "I have never committed perjury. You should also take responsibility for perjury, Congressman." After being criticized by opposition party members and Chairman Lee Won-wook, he stood up and bowed his head in apology. (Photo by Yonhap News)

Meanwhile, there was also disorder at the Science and ICT Committee audit site. However, unlike the previous day's audit of the Industry, Energy and Resources Committee, it was not a clash between ruling and opposition lawmakers.

When Lawmaker Hwang said, "President Jung also perjured," President Jung responded, "Regarding perjury, lawmakers should take responsibility later. I have never perjured," retorting.

As voices rose, Committee Chair Lee Won-wook told President Jung, "Your remarks were very excessive even to my ears. Apologize for those words," he demanded.

President Jung said, "Earlier, when I was responding to Lawmaker Hwang, the part expressing perjury was, since this is a national audit session, I think it was an excessive expression as several lawmakers said, and I express regret," he said.

Chairman Lee requested again, "Not regret, apologize." President Jung said, "I am sorry."

Chairman Lee demanded, "Stand up and bow your head once to the ruling party lawmakers and opposition lawmakers." President Jung said, "I will do so."

Afterward, voices rose again, and only after Chairman Lee settled the situation was it calmed down.

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