The Presidential Office directed an investigation into reports that Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and Korea Electric Power Corporation accepted unfair demands from the American Westinghouse during the export process of the Czech nuclear power plant on the 19th.
According to Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jeong, Secretary to the President Kang Hoon noted at a meeting on the morning of the same day that the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy should 'alleviate public skepticism regarding the Czech nuclear power plant export,' and said, 'Report on the investigation including the media reports.'
Spokesperson Kang stated regarding the Secretary's directive, 'There was a decision to investigate whether there were legal grounds and regulations in the negotiation and contract process with Westinghouse by the public institutions KEPCO and KHNP, and whether principles and procedures were properly followed.' Accordingly, the government is expected to launch an investigation into whether there were illegalities in the nuclear power plant procurement contracts signed during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.
According to earlier media reports, KHNP and KEPCO accepted conditions that they must pass Westinghouse's technology independence verification during the export of next-generation nuclear power plants while signing a 'global agreement' with Westinghouse last January. It is also reported that the agreement includes clauses stating that purchasing contracts for goods and services worth approximately $650 million (about 900 billion won) per nuclear power unit must be formed, along with a technical usage fee of $175 million (about 240 billion won) per unit.
This agreement was made during the final contract process to secure two new nuclear power plants in Dukovany, Czech Republic. Criticism has been raised that 'the Yoon Suk-yeol government has sacrificed national interests to achieve export success.'