Ministry of Industry Rejects Reconsideration of Recommendation to Dismiss President of Energy University

"Serious Disciplinary Actions"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy rejected the request from President Yoon Eui-jun of Korea Energy University to withdraw the recommendation for his dismissal.

According to materials received by Lee Jong-bae, a member of the People Power Party on the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee, from the Ministry on the 18th, the Ministry dismissed President Yoon's request for reconsideration on the same day.

Previously, the Ministry conducted an audit of Korea Energy University and found multiple cases of moral hazard, including improper settlement and execution of business promotion expenses, misuse of contributions, and unjust receipt of work allowances.

It was also pointed out as problematic that the university did not report the consulting results received from Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) to the board of directors and the Ministry, and that it decided on a 13.8% salary increase for staff through internal approval only without reporting to the Ministry.

Accordingly, in July, the Ministry recommended the dismissal of President Yoon to the university's board of directors and demanded warnings and recovery of misused amounts from five professors.

President Yoon and the professors argued that these measures were excessive and applied for reconsideration to the Ministry's Audit Office at the end of last month.

As a result of the reconsideration, the Ministry dismissed the claim by President Yoon that "the improper execution and settlement of the president's business promotion expenses were simple clerical errors by staff," stating that "the use and management of the corporate card in the president's name is the sole responsibility of the president."

Regarding President Yoon's decision to increase salaries without reporting to the Ministry, the Ministry pointed out that "as an important matter in university management, there is an obligation to report to the Ministry, which holds budget approval authority under the Korea Energy University Act and related regulations, and board approval is necessary."

Concerning Korea Energy University's claim that "KEPCO consulting is not an audit and therefore there is no reporting obligation," the Ministry judged that "KEPCO consulting is, by nature, equivalent to an audit," and thus there is a reporting obligation.

Meanwhile, Korea Energy University was established in March last year in Naju, Jeollanam-do, as a key initiative of the Moon Jae-in administration. The school's budget was funded by contributions from KEPCO, KEPCO group companies, the government, and local governments.

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