Naju City Council Condemns Government and Ruling Party's Reconsideration of KEPCO University Funding

Published 16 May.2023 14:47(KST)

The Naju City Council of Jeollanam-do (Chairman Lee Sang-man) condemned Minister Lee Chang-yang of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for his remarks on the full reconsideration of the funding for Korea Energy University and announced a “Statement Condemning the Reconsideration of Korea Energy University Funding” in front of the People Power Party Jeollanam-do Provincial Party Office on the 16th.

Naju City Council issued a statement condemning the "Reconsideration of the Funding for Korea Energy University" in front of the People Power Party Jeonnam Provincial Office on the 16th.
[Photo by Naju City Council]

In the statement, the Naju City Council asserted, “Korea Energy University, the only energy-specialized university in the country, is facing an existential crisis just over a year after its opening,” and added, “This is because the government and the ruling party are making excessive demands under the pretext of electricity rate hikes, which have become a political issue, and Korea Electric Power Corporation’s (KEPCO) self-rescue plan.”

They further pointed out, “According to the Korea Energy University Special Act enacted in March 2021, Korea Energy University was lawfully established, but the government and ruling party have been conducting all-out suppression, including targeted audits in March under the pretext of questioning the legality of its establishment.”

Moreover, they lamented, “Recently, they have argued for reconsideration of the funding by mentioning KEPCO’s deficit resolution plan and even raised unreasonable claims of consolidation,” adding, “This is a political game that jeopardizes the dreams of youth and the future of South Korea’s energy industry, which is truly disheartening.”

The Naju City Council strongly condemned the government and ruling party’s remarks on reconsidering the funding for Korea Energy University and urged them to immediately stop the political oppression against Korea Energy University, which embodies the dreams of youth and the future of South Korea’s energy industry; called on the government to prepare sustainable reform plans for power sales policies to resolve KEPCO’s deficit and for the energy industry; and demanded that the funding for Korea Energy University be implemented as originally planned.