[2026 National Assembly Audit] Opposition: "Industry and Climate Ministries Split Too Hastily"... Kim Jungkwan: "Domestic and Overseas Nuclear Power Split, Causing Inefficiencies Too"

At a comprehensive audit by the National Assembly's Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee on the 22nd
Industry Minister: "My opposition to the government reorganization has not changed, but we must make it work well"

Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan said on the 22nd, "I believe inefficiencies are emerging because domestic and overseas nuclear power projects are handled separately."

Kim made the remarks while attending a comprehensive audit by the National Assembly's Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee. He was responding to a question from Rep. Park Seong-min of the People Power Party, who asked whether his position had changed on separating industrial and energy policy through the government reorganization.

Yonhap News Agency

Rep. Park criticized the division of energy and resource policy between the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, saying, "The government reorganization was carried out too hastily and incorrectly" and "It should be corrected, even at this point."

The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment currently oversees nuclear power policy, including the construction and operation of domestic nuclear power plants, while the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy handles work related to overseas nuclear power exports. Kim had previously voiced opposition to the government reorganization.

"My position has not changed, but since the reorganization has been implemented this way, I believe we have to make it work well within the current framework," Kim said. "I believe this division is also creating inefficiencies in the nuclear power sector, as domestic and overseas projects are handled separately. However, since we are responsible for overseas exports, we will do our best within the current framework."

Kim also said labor-related special provisions, such as exemptions from the 52-hour workweek, should be included in the Mega Special Zone Act (Super-Regional Special Zone Act) to support mega-projects. "The Ministry of Employment and Labor appears to believe that social consensus is needed and that the issue should be discussed publicly," Kim said. "We hope that labor-related exemptions will definitely be included in the Mega Special Zone Act."

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