"Integrated Power Generation Headquarters Should Be in Jinju"

Local Political Leaders, Labor Unions, and Civic Groups
Urge Government to Decide Headquarters Location Based on Principles of Balanced National Development

As the government reviews plans to restructure and integrate the functions of the five state-owned power generation companies, political leaders, labor representatives, and civic groups from the Gyeongnam region are calling for the integrated headquarters to be established in Jinju, Gyeongnam Innovation City.

On the morning of June 16, Jae Wook Jung, member of the Gyeongnam Provincial Council; Myo Young Kang and Seong Hwang Ahn, Jinju City Council members-elect; the Gyeongnam Innovation City Public Institutions Labor Union Council; the Student Council of Gyeongsang National University; representatives of the Chungmu-dong community; and the Jinju branch of the Korea Association of Realtors held a joint press conference at the briefing room of Jinju City Hall, demanding the government establish clear criteria for selecting the site of the integrated headquarters.

[Photo by Jaewook Jung, Office of Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly Member] On the morning of the 16th, at the briefing room of Jinju City Hall, political figures from the Gyeongnam region, public institution labor unions, and community group representatives are urging the government for a fair site selection and the attraction of the integrated headquarters of development public enterprises to Jinju in the Gyeongnam Innovation City during a joint press conference.

The participants argued that since the government is expected to announce interim results of the research on power generation company integration later this month and begin full-scale discussions, the decision on the headquarters’ location should comprehensively consider balanced national development, the functions of existing innovation cities, and operational efficiency in the power generation industry.

They highlighted that Korea South-East Power has served as a core public institution in Gyeongnam Innovation City, contributing to the local economy, employment, and recruitment of local talent. They warned that relocating the integrated headquarters to another region could negatively impact both the innovation city and the regional economy.

They also asserted that Jinju offers convenient access to major power generation facilities in Hadong, Samcheonpo, Goseong, and Yeosu, and that utilizing the existing Korea South-East Power headquarters building would help reduce costs and enhance organizational efficiency.

Furthermore, they stressed that concentrating public institutions in specific areas such as Naju runs counter to the purpose of balanced national development, adding that the continuity of the existing innovation city policy must also be taken into account.

The press conference participants called on the government to: ▲ sufficiently gather opinions from the local community and employees of the power generation companies; ▲ determine the headquarters’ location based on balanced national development, accessibility to power generation sites, and existing infrastructure; ▲ establish the integrated headquarters in Jinju, Gyeongnam Innovation City; and ▲ create institutional measures to ensure the job security, working conditions, local talent recruitment, and support for local businesses during the integration process.

Meanwhile, the government is currently reviewing the restructuring and integration of the five state-owned power generation companies and plans to discuss whether and how to proceed based on the results of the research project. If integration moves forward, competition among local governments over the headquarters location is expected to intensify.

The decision on the integrated headquarters’ location should be approached not as a regional competition, but within the framework of national energy policy and the principles of balanced national development. Regardless of the region, objective criteria such as operational efficiency, existing infrastructure, and balanced regional growth must take precedence over political considerations.

The demands from the Jinju community should also be assessed based on these criteria, and the government must ensure a transparent decision-making process that fully reflects the research findings and the opinions of stakeholders. Above all, it is essential to ensure fairness and rationality in order to prevent the headquarters decision from leading to further regional conflict.

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