According to a report by Yonhap News on July 3, Kim made these remarks during an appearance on KBS Radio, where he noted that the primary sources of domestic electricity generation are located in the southwestern region, including nuclear power plants, as well as in the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam area and Gangwon Province. He emphasized that the central region, such as the Seoul metropolitan area and Chungcheong Province, relies on transmission networks for power supply, adding, "The only option left for us is to establish production facilities close to power sources."
In response to criticisms that renewable energy alone cannot ensure stable power supply, Kim stated, "The power grid in South Korea is interconnected, so we do not rely solely on one source of energy."
He also pointed out that the share of renewable energy in South Korea's power generation stands at about 9%, significantly lower than the OECD average of 30%. He stressed that without increasing the proportion of renewable energy, the country would struggle to compete in global trade.
Addressing concerns that the expansion of renewable energy conflicts with the government's nuclear phase-out policy, Kim remarked, "The assertion of a 'nuclear phase-out policy' seems to misunderstand the current government's stance. Recently, we announced plans to build new nuclear power plants and small modular reactors (SMRs). Decarbonization does not equate to a nuclear phase-out."
Kim expressed confidence in the progress of the Jeonnam semiconductor cluster project. He mentioned that during tea time with the president and advisors, President Yoon Suk Yeol emphasized, "Make sure to expedite approvals, even if it means working through the night; I will take full responsibility." He noted that while it took six years to break ground in Yongin, the goal for Jeonnam is to achieve this in zero time, reflecting the determination of the highest authority.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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