Yoon transition team to enhance nuclear energy policy
來源：開云體育app官方網站發布日期：2023-01-26 09:37:29 瀏覽：43588
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| Then-presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol speaks about his energy policy near a nuclear reactor in Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province, Dec. 29, 2021. Korea Times file |
By Lee Kyung-min
Four mid- and senior-level officials from the industry, science and environment ministries with expertise in energy policy have joined the presidential transition team to advise President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, setting the stage to strengthen the incoming administration's nuclear-centered energy policies, according to market watchers, Tuesday.
The four are expected to lead a drastic revision in cooperation with private sector experts to discard the much-blasted nuclear phase-out policy spearheaded by the Moon Jae-in administration. Greater efforts will follow to further advance the affordable and stable energy source to develop Korea as a global leader in nuclear technology, one of Yoon's major campaign pledges.
Nuclear experts
According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Deputy Minister for Energy and Resources Joo Young-joon has been dispatched to the committee. He oversees energy and industrial policies, two major fields in which he has developed deep knowledge and experience over the past three decades.
Joo's notable nuclear-related professional career includes being dispatched to Cheong Wa Dae during the Lee Myung-bak administration to advise on the export of the country's nuclear power generation system.
Also joining the committee is Kang Kam-chan, who oversees energy industry policy, primarily concerning power generation and supply. He has been in public service for over two decades, during which time he oversaw the ministry's trade policies and semiconductor and display manufacturing policies.
Kang is expected to review the feasibility of whether the electricity pricing rate for April can be frozen, as pledged by Yoon during his campaign. Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) postponed the announcement of the rate hike, Monday, citing ongoing deliberations among relevant government ministries.
The Ministry of Environment said Jeon Wan, the director for the Waste Resources Management Division under the Resources Circulation Bureau, has joined the committee.
The dispatch of the mid-level official was met by surprise, since his role has little overlap with carbon neutrality, the ministry's key initiative.
This is why many expect a notable shift in the ministry's directive, from the current regulations on environmental issues to the stable supply of energy including nuclear energy.
Of the two officials dispatched from the Ministry of Science and ICT, Yoon Sung-hoon oversees the Public and Energy R&D Budget Coordination Division.
The division under the Science, Technology and Innovation Coordination Bureau scarcely represents ICT affairs. It concerns itself mostly with making decisions on R&D budget allocation for nuclear energy, space and aviation, construction and city traffic control and environmental projects.
The ministry officials will play a vital role to ensure the effective use of nuclear energy including for export, according to Lee Jong-ho, a senior researcher at the Nuclear Research Institute for Future Technology Policy (NIFTEP) associated with Seoul National University.
"Joo, for example, has a deep knowledge of how nuclear energy can be managed and commercialized with proper management of risk factors," he said. "The others are likely to help address concerns and outline policy responses."
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