[2022 National Audit] Five Power Companies Supported 'Family Jeju Island Travel Expenses' for Several Years

Namdong Power Generation, Nambu Power Generation, Dongseo Power Generation, Seobu Power Generation, Jungbu Power Generation
Full Support for Round-Trip Airfare and Tourism Expenses for Employees and Families to Jeju Island
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Uses 800 Million Won for Employee and Family Travel Expenses

Detailed Schedule of Group Training Programs at Jeju Life Training Center for KEPCO's Five Power Generation Companies from 2018 to 2020 and 2022 [Office of Assemblyman Kim Sung-won]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] It has been revealed that power generation public enterprises have been using budgets meant for 'education' and 'training' for employees and their families' trips to Jeju Island for several years.

On the 17th, according to data submitted by Kim Sung-won, a member of the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee (Gyeonggi Dongducheon·Yeoncheon), from Korea South-East Power, Korea Southern Power, Korea East-West Power, Korea Western Power, and Korea Midland Power, these five companies supported round-trip airfare, condo accommodation costs, entrance fees to major facilities, tourist vehicles, guides, and meal expenses during 3-night 4-day Jeju Island trips for employees and their families under the names of 'Living Training Center' and 'Group Training Program.'

The 'Group Training Program' was filled with Jeju Island-wide tourist schedules such as horseback riding experiences, trekking at Seongsan Ilchulbong and Seopjikoji, tours of the O'Sulloc green tea fields, and watching elephant shows.

The total amount spent on Jeju Island trips for 821 employees and 3,356 family members over two years from 2018 to 2019 was approximately 1.2 billion KRW.

According to the agreement with the travel agency, the group training cost per person (entrance fees, vehicle fees, guide fees, meal expenses) increased from 74,400 KRW in 2018 to 129,000 KRW in 2019 and 2020. Due to COVID-19, only partial support was provided in 2020.

With the program, which was suspended for two years due to COVID-19, resuming last month, the cost per person has risen to 180,000 KRW, and the future support budget is expected to increase further.

The five power generation companies jointly operate the 'Jeju Living Training Center Group Training Program' through an agreement with a travel agency.

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power did not sign an agreement with a travel agency but supported about 800 million KRW for 627 employees and 2,613 family members over two years from 2018 to 2019. This year, it has already spent 170 million KRW on travel expenses for 526 family members.

The five power generation public enterprises and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power use the KEPCO training centers operated in Sokcho and Chungju and provide budgets to employees.

A total budget of 3.34 billion KRW paid from 2018 to August this year under 'education training expenses' and 'living training education expenses' was actually used for employees and their families' accommodation fees, meal expenses, fuel costs, entrance fees to tourist attractions such as Seoraksan and Waterpia, and welcome gifts (fruit baskets).

Assemblyman Kim Sung-won pointed out, "If power generation public enterprises are operated wastefully, there will be no public acceptance of the justification for electricity rate increases," and added, "Strong measures acceptable to the public must be prepared."

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