Democratic Party Leader Lee Nak-yeon Promises to Pass ‘HanJeonGongDae Special Act’ Next Month

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, promised to process the Korea Electric Power Corporation University (KEPCO University) Special Act next month.

According to Jeonnam Province on the 10th, Lee visited the Naju Bitgaram Innovation City with Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok and inspected the site for KEPCO University.

At the meeting, Governor Kim requested support from Lee for key bills and regional issues.

Governor Kim proposed six items: ▲Enactment of the "Korea Energy Technology University Act" ▲Establishment of an ultra-high-power laser center ▲Enactment of the "Yeosu-Suncheon October 19 Incident Special Act" ▲Institutional improvements for early promotion of offshore wind power ▲Hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) ▲Designation of a national advanced medical complex.

Regarding the Korea Energy Technology University Act, Governor Kim said, "For the university to officially open in March next year, considering the schedule for enacting enforcement ordinances, revising the articles of incorporation, and announcing recruitment guidelines, the Korea Energy Technology University Act must be passed at the February extraordinary session of the National Assembly," and urged, "Please adopt it as a party policy and strongly promote it."

He also requested support for establishing the ultra-high-power laser center, an essential facility for national advanced science and technology and industry development and a large-scale national research facility for creating future industries in the Honam region, in connection with KEPCO University in Bitgaram Innovation City.

Regarding the Yeosu-Suncheon October 19 Incident Special Act, he mentioned that the special act has never been reviewed even once and emphasized the need for prompt processing.

Additionally, he explained the background, saying, "On the 5th, President Moon Jae-in attended the first event of the regional balanced New Deal tour and expressed his full support for the creation of an 8.2GW offshore wind power complex, a Jeonnam-type win-win job," and "He promised to shorten the project preparation period, which usually takes more than five years until groundbreaking, and to enact a special law to provide integrated support from site discovery to permits."

He continued, "At the party level, national support is needed for the construction cost of the joint connection facility to actively promote offshore wind power, a representative project of the Korean New Deal," and requested, "Please actively work on institutional improvements related to offshore wind power, such as expanding the REC weighting to encourage private power companies' participation and raising the payment rate criteria for offshore wind power support funds to secure residents' acceptance."

Regarding the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), he said, "At the upcoming COP26 conference in November, before Korea applies to host, the 10 cities and counties in Jeonnam and Gyeongnam should be confirmed as the venue to promote harmony between Yeongnam and Honam," and requested, "I hope the government will support this decision policy-wise so that the conference can be adequately prepared."

After listening to Jeonnam's key bills and regional issues, Lee Nak-yeon reportedly deeply sympathized and promised maximum support at the party level going forward.

In particular, he stated, "I will do my best to ensure that the Korea Energy Technology University Special Act is processed preferably within February," and "If delayed, I will make sure it passes by next month at the latest."

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