Lee Chang-yang: "We Will Radically Innovate Renewable Energy Policies"... To Operate a Task Force with External Experts

At the Ministry of Industry's Emergency Executive Meeting

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy recently decided to establish comprehensive innovation measures and recurrence prevention plans for renewable energy policies following the audit results revealing corruption in renewable energy projects. The innovation plan will be prepared through a task force (TF) involving external experts.

Minister Lee Chang-yang held an emergency executive meeting on the 15th attended by all executives at level 1 and above and issued these directives.

Minister Lee emphasized, "Regarding the recent audit results on corruption in renewable energy, the entire Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, including the minister, must take this very seriously as the responsible ministry and feel a strong sense of responsibility," and urged, "Cooperate sincerely with the Board of Audit and Inspection's audits related to renewable energy."

He continued, "We must thoroughly review the systems related to the corruption revealed by the audit results and innovate to prevent recurrence," adding, "To prepare these innovation measures, form and operate a TF led by the 2nd Vice Minister with participation from external experts."

Along with this, the ministry also decided to conduct a thorough review of the systems and operational methods of energy-related institutions involved in this audit.

Meanwhile, on the 13th, the Board of Audit and Inspection announced that it had detected corruption allegations in renewable energy projects such as solar and wind power conducted during the Moon Jae-in administration, and referred a total of 38 individuals, including related local government heads and ministry officials, to the prosecution for investigation. From October last year to February this year, the Board inspected renewable energy projects suspected of preferential treatment and corruption, discovering cases where public officials colluded with private companies to provide preferential treatment in permits and contracts. Some of these individuals obtained project rights through false documents or received improper government subsidies.

Minister Lee Chang-yang of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. (File photo)

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