Kim Hoe-cheon took office as the 11th president of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) on the 18th. At an inauguration ceremony at KHNP's headquarters in Gyeongju, the new president said, "With the spirit of seungpungparang (乘風破浪), let's move forward together and stand tall in the global nuclear power generation industry." Seungpungparang means riding the wind and cutting through the waves.
Kim cited as directions that Korea's energy industry must pursue for the future: ▲ safety first ▲ stable operation and improved efficiency of facilities in operation ▲ unimpeded promotion of new nuclear power plant construction ▲ management of radioactive waste and securing social acceptance ▲ leading new global markets by strengthening safety and technology for nuclear decommissioning ▲ securing future competitiveness in the energy transition era ▲ winning overseas projects and strengthening global competitiveness ▲ love and trust from the public, local communities, and members.
Kim said, "Ensuring safety is an essential value for KHNP's existence," and urged "thorough preparation for unexpected facility situations and rapid yet safe construction." He went on to stress strengthening expertise in radioactive waste management under the principle of co-prosperity with local communities, the on-time construction of new pumped-storage power plants, and the modernization of aging hydro and pumped-storage plants.
Regarding overseas projects, Kim said, "We aim to capture overseas nuclear markets by establishing a two-track market preemption strategy with large nuclear power plants and Small Modular Reactor (SMR)," adding, "We will successfully carry out overseas projects already won and pursue demand-country-tailored bidding activities to open new markets." He continued, "With local communities, we will build trust through humble, service-minded listening based on sincerity," and "We will activate regular labor-management communication channels and employee participation systems and reflect them in management."
On the first day at work, Kim visited the union office to talk with union members, signaling a commitment to labor-management cooperation. Kim said, "KHNP has been able to serve as a central pillar of national energy security thanks to close cooperation between labor and management," adding, "We will listen to the union's voice and communicate to solidify a trusted labor-management relationship."
Immediately after the inauguration, Kim chaired an "emergency management review meeting on the Middle East situation," checking the operational status of nuclear power plants, the safety of overseas construction sites, and the nuclear fuel supply chain. At the meeting, Kim called for a state of full readiness to ensure a stable power supply and demand.
Kim joined Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) in 1985 and served as director of planning, head of the management division, and executive vice president for management support. He later worked as a research professor in the Energy IT Department at Gachon University and served as president and CEO of Korea South-East Power Co. (KOEN).