Mayor Byungtae Yoon Requests Central Government Support for "Naju, the Energy Capital"

Request to Attract Unified Headquarters of Five Power Generation Companies to Naju
Emphasis on Establishing Naju as a Core Power Industry Hub
Request for 50 Billion Won in National Funding for KENTECH Energy Cluster

Naju Mayor Byungtae Yoon visited central government ministries to request that local energy issues—such as attracting the unified headquarters of the five power generation companies and establishing the KENTECH (Korea Institute of Energy Technology) Energy Cluster—be reflected in national policies, as well as to secure state funding.

According to Naju City on August 19, Mayor Yoon visited the Ministry of Climate Energy and Environment and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy consecutively the previous day. He requested government support for attracting the unified headquarters of the five power generation companies, creating a global energy capital, establishing the KENTECH Energy Cluster, and expanding high-power semiconductor demonstration infrastructure.

Mayor Byungtae Yoon visited the Ministry of Climate Energy and Environment and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on the 18th to request the reflection of major local issues of Naju City in national policies and national budget support. The photo shows Mayor Byungtae Yoon (right) making a request on major issues to HoHyun Lee, Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of Climate Energy and Environment (left), and taking a commemorative photo. Provided by Naju City

At the Ministry of Climate Energy and Environment, Mayor Yoon met with Vice Minister Ho-hyun Lee and Director Yang-taek Moon of Power Industry Policy to emphasize the necessity of bringing the unified headquarters of the five power generation companies to Naju.

Naju is already home to key institutions in the power industry—including Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Korea Power Exchange, KEPCO KPS, and KEPCO KDN—as well as KENTECH and Energy Valley companies. Mayor Yoon underscored that if power generation functions are also consolidated in the city, Naju can advance as a core national energy industry hub encompassing the entire power industry cycle, from generation, transmission, and distribution to power trading, maintenance, and ICT.

He also requested the inclusion of 25 policy tasks across six sectors for the creation of a global energy capital into national policies.

The key contents include attracting energy companies, institutions, and research institutes; designating a special opportunity zone for energy development; expanding KENTECH enrollment and establishing the energy cluster; building research and demonstration bases for artificial sun, superconductors, and high-power semiconductors; improving regulations and facilitating the energy transition; and expanding education and medical infrastructure.

In particular, to enable the phased construction of the KENTECH Energy Cluster in connection with the Honam-region semiconductor cluster, Mayor Yoon requested a national budget allocation of 50 billion won to establish foundational infrastructure on a 66,000-square-meter (20,000 pyeong) site as a first priority. He also called for government support for the "High-Power Semiconductor Module Demonstration Infrastructure Construction and Corporate Support Project," which has a total project cost of 40 billion won, and requested that 5 billion won in national funding be earmarked in 2027 for the purchase of testing equipment and related needs for Naju City.

He also emphasized the need for government-level support to ensure the stable operation of KENTECH.

He requested solutions to the nearly three-year vacancy of the presidency, revision of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Act, an increase in government contributions, and the conversion of financial support to the general account.

During his subsequent visit to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Mayor Yoon met with Vice Minister Shin-hak Moon, Semiconductor Division Director Hongsang Ahn, and Regional Economy Director Jaeseok Lee, explaining the necessity of major projects such as building high-power semiconductor module demonstration infrastructure.

He highlighted that establishing a testing, evaluation, and demonstration infrastructure linked with Naju's energy industry base will foster technology development and commercialization for related businesses and contribute to localizing core power grid components.

Mayor Yoon stated, "By attracting the unified headquarters of the five power generation companies and creating a global energy capital, we will develop Naju into the core city of Korea's energy industry. Leveraging the strength of a region where KENTECH, energy public enterprises, and businesses are clustered, we will lead the nation's energy transition and reliably secure Naju's future growth engines."

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