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Anti-nuclear activists oppose industry minister nominee
Industry Minister nominee Kim Jung-kwan answers questions from reporters en route to his office for parliamentary confirmation hearing preparations in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
By Park Jae-hyuk
Doosan executive's return to government draws severe backlash
Calls are growing among anti-nuclear civic groups and environmental activists to reconsider the nomination of Doosan Enerbility President Kim Jung-kwan as the Lee Jae Myung administration's first minister of trade, industry and energy.
Critics are expressing concerns that Kim may slow Korea's nuclear power phase-out and transition to renewable energy, as Doosan Enerbility is a major supplier of equipment for nuclear power plants and is participating in a project to build new reactors in the Czech Republic.
A day after the presidential office announced his nomination, 10 anti-nuclear civic groups issued a joint statement urging the administration to retract the decision to appoint Kim, who previously served as a finance ministry official for two decades before joining Doosan.
“Kim has led Doosan Enerbility's nuclear power business, including projects involving small modular reactors,” the statement said. “We question whether his career aligns with energy transition policies for carbon neutrality, as his nomination appears to signal the government's intention to return to a nuclear-oriented energy policy.”
The Korean Federation for Environmental Movements (KFEM) issued a statement the same day. Citing ongoing doubts about the profitability of the Czech nuclear project, the federation claimed Kim is not suitable to lead the ministry.
“The administration should revoke the nomination and seek someone who can expand renewable energy and pursue a nuclear power phase-out,” KFEM said.
Kim said Monday he had been busy traveling to the Czech Republic to secure the project.
“The entire country should celebrate winning the Czech nuclear project,” he told reporters on his way to prepare for a parliamentary confirmation hearing. “The president also celebrated the accomplishment, as he considers it significant.”
A forging press operates at Doosan Enerbility's factory in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, to produce major components for Shin Hanul reactors 3 and 4 in May 2023. Courtesy of Doosan Enerbility
Rep. Yoon Jong-o, floor leader of the minor opposition Progressive Party, said Tuesday that Kim's nomination could create a conflict of interest. Yoon represents the constituency of Ulsan's Buk District, which is adjacent to nuclear power plants on the southeast coast.
“If Kim becomes minister and is involved in allocating budgets for nuclear energy policies, he may be suspected of establishing policies favoring a particular company,” Yoon said during a general meeting of lawmakers. “He has focused on nuclear-centered policies and has been passive about expanding renewable energy.”
In response to concerns, Kim said he would be mindful of potential conflicts of interest.
“Basically, I think the interests of companies are inseparable from the national interest,” he said.
The presidential office also said Kim's nomination does not affect the administration's energy policy direction.
“We believe the nominee can help realize the president's philosophy of an energy mix,” Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik told reporters Sunday.
Although Lee has pledged to continue much of former liberal President Moon Jae-in's policies aimed at boosting solar power, he has distanced himself from Moon's anti-nuclear stance, reiterating that it would be difficult to pursue either a radical nuclear phase-out or a policy focused solely on nuclear power.
His aides told reporters that Lee plans a gradual nuclear phase-out through public consensus, while maintaining the current share of nuclear power for now.
There is also speculation that the industry ministry may step back from energy policy if Lee fulfills his campaign pledge to launch a climate and energy ministry by merging the Ministry of Environment and the Office of Energy Policy, which is currently under the industry ministry.
However, Kim emphasized that industry and energy policies are inseparable, indicating his opposition to the plan to move energy policy to the environment ministry.