Opening of Korea Energy University: "Achieving Top 10 Global Energy University by 2050"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Korea Energy Technology University (KENTECH), a campaign promise of President Moon Jae-in, is starting its first semester. As the world's first energy-specialized research and startup-focused university, Korea Energy Technology University has set a goal to become one of the world's top 10 engineering universities in the energy sector by 2050.

On the 2nd, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that it held the 1st KENTECH freshman entrance ceremony and vision proclamation ceremony at the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) Energy University campus in Naju, Jeollanam-do, attended by Minister Moon Seung-wook, KEPCO President Jung Seung-il, Jeollanam-do Governor Kim Young-rok, Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop, new undergraduate and graduate students, and their parents.

KENTECH was established following President Moon’s promise to found KEPCO University as part of the Gwangju-Jeonnam mutual development plan during his 19th presidential election campaign in 2017. The process included incorporation into the 5-year national administration plan (July 2017), university site selection (January 2019), approval of the ‘Basic Plan for KEPCO University Establishment’ by the National Balanced Development Committee (July 2019), reporting to the Cabinet meeting (August 2019), and passage of the Korea Energy Technology University Act in the National Assembly (March 2021), culminating in welcoming its first students after five years.

KENTECH is a small, elite university specializing in energy, established with 400 undergraduates (100 per grade) and 600 graduate students. Students receive innovative engineering education in a single faculty without departmental barriers, allowing them to freely choose their courses. The university focuses research on five promising fields: energy artificial intelligence (AI) and new materials, hydrogen energy, next-generation grids, and environmental climate technologies, and plans to actively collaborate with other universities.

In a video congratulatory message, President Moon said, "In preparation for carbon neutrality, KENTECH will be the foundation for South Korea to leap forward as a future energy powerhouse," and urged, "As a symbol of innovation and balanced development in the Jeonnam and Gwangju regions, KENTECH should contribute to realizing a global energy hub beyond the region through industry-academia-research cooperation."

Jeollanam-do and KEPCO are developing the Energy Valley in Bitgaram Innovation City to foster an energy industry-academia-research cluster similar to Silicon Valley in the United States. KEPCO explained that it has attracted 556 companies in new energy industries and power IT, achieving investments of 2.6771 trillion KRW and employment effects of about 12,000 jobs.

Meanwhile, at the entrance ceremony, 14 contributors to the establishment of KENTECH, including KEPCO Planning Director Jeong Jae-cheon, received Presidential Citations, Prime Minister Citations, and Minister of Industry Awards.

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