KEPCO Supplies Power Outside Gaesong Industrial Park

The Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) was found to have supplied electricity to a North Korean institution located outside the Gaesong Industrial park.

“Under the instruction of the Ministry of Unification, KEPCO began to supply 150 kilowatts of power from June 30, 2006 to the North`s Central Special Zone Development Administration, which is outside the power supply range designated for the Gaesong Industrial Park,” said Grand National Party Rep. Lee Byeong-seok on Friday at the parliament`s Industry and Energy Committee’s audit session of KEPCO and its affiliates.

“The Ministry of Unification decided to supply electricity based on an ‘ancillary agreement’ between the Gaesong Industrial District Management Committee and the Central Special Zone Development Administration. In other words, the ministry provided electricity to a North Korean organization situated outside the sanctioned area based on an agreement between North Korean organizations without the principle.”

In response, Lee Won-geol, CEO of KEPCO said, “Although it is located outside the approved area, we supplied electricity upon the government’s request.”

parky@donga.com