Kim Donga: "Korea's Nuclear Technology and Future Handed Over to Extend Administration"

Press Conference Reveals Internal KHNP Documents

Allegations have emerged that, during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) discussed measures with the U.S. company Westinghouse regarding the supply of nuclear fuel in the process of bidding for the Czech nuclear power plant project. It is claimed that this was done to shift the political crisis faced by then-President Yoon Suk-yeol.

On October 13, Kim Donga, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, held a press conference at the National Assembly’s communication center, stating that he had obtained internal documents from KHNP. He declared, "Shocking evidence has come to light that former President Yoon handed over Korea’s nuclear power technology and future to Westinghouse in an attempt to extend his administration."

Citing the internal documents, Assemblyman Kim argued that, when exporting nuclear power plants, Korea must pay Westinghouse over 1 trillion won per plant and can only export nuclear fuel after it passes Westinghouse’s technology verification.

The conflict between KHNP and Westinghouse over the intellectual property rights of the Korean-designed APR-1400 nuclear reactor, which had continued for several years, entered a resolution phase after the announcement of the preferred bidder for the Czech nuclear power plant in July last year.

According to Assemblyman Kim, this was due to the active intervention of the presidential office and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, aiming to solidify their position amid setbacks such as a general election defeat, the controversy involving First Lady Kim Keonhee, and the special investigation into the death of Chae Sang-byeong.

Assemblyman Kim stated, "At the ministerial meeting between South Korea and the United States on August 8 last year, then-Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Deokgeun told U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, 'If we withdraw from the Czech project, President Yoon could be impeached.'"

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In addition, suspicions have been raised that Westinghouse would have an exclusive supply of cladding technology for the Czech nuclear power plant, and that Westinghouse would monopolize the supply of raw materials for cladding used in all domestic nuclear power plants until as late as 2048.

Cladding technology, a core material in nuclear power plants, prevents the leakage of radioactive substances and transfers the heat generated during nuclear fission to the coolant. Korea is set to commercialize this technology in three years.

Assemblyman Kim asserted, "Those involved from the presidential office, the Ministry of Industry, KHNP, and KEPCO at the time must be thoroughly investigated for breach of duty and strictly punished in accordance with the relevant laws." He also strongly urged a parliamentary-level investigation to uncover the full truth.

When asked by a reporter about the possibility of renegotiation after the press conference, Assemblyman Kim replied, "Judging by the agreement itself, it seems difficult, but I trust in the capabilities of the Lee Jaemyung administration and will wait and see."

In contrast, KHNP refuted the materials cited by Assemblyman Kim, stating that they were not official documents. "If such information is reported without verifying the facts, unnecessary misunderstandings and damages may occur, so we ask the media to exercise caution in their reporting," the company said.

KHNP also denied the allegations that Westinghouse would have exclusive rights to supply cladding technology to the Czech nuclear power plant and monopolize the supply of cladding raw materials to domestic nuclear power plants, stating, "This is not true."

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