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| The construction site of Korea Institute of Energy Technology (KENTECH) in Naju, South Jeolla Province. Yonhap |
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| KEPCO CEO Cheong Seung-il |
Criticism is mounting over the government's plan to give commendation awards to officials, who worked to set up the Korea Institute of Energy Technology (KENTECH), a technology university to be founded by state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) in Naju, South Jeolla Province, in March. This is the latest controvesy over the school which many private experts have characterized as "ill-conceived and a politically railroaded plan at the expense of taxpayers."
The founding of the tech university was a major campaign pledge by the then presidential candidate Moon Jae-in, an initiative strengthened under former South Jeolla Province Governor Lee Nak-yon.
According to some critics, this is the sole reason why the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and the government have sought legislative approvals and pushed through the questionable policy for KENTECH despite a clear lack of means, feasibility in plans of education, operation and financing of the university.
The cause of equal development of the country drew a groundswell of public support by residents in the province, the southern region long neglected from the rapid advancement of economic development found in the Seoul metropolitan area and Gyeongsang provinces.
Yet, how and whether the high education institution will be managed efficiently and competently remains unclear, given its lack of physical infrastructure and faculty with only about a month before its opening. Sitting solely in a 400,000 square-meter lot is a five-story building still under construction.
A bit of a stretch
According to sources, some former and current key KEPCO officials and high-ranking public servants in the province are likely being shortlisted as recipients of the awards given by the president, prime minister and industry minister.
However, the reported plan to award the commendations, March 2, on the day of the university opening, means the review period of those shortlisted will be shortened to about one month, or two months at best, greatly rushed from the original five months, during which time recommendations are made and approved by the interior ministry, presidential office and prime minister's office.
"Whether correct procedures are being carried out remains highly doubtful, given the university construction plans proceeded swiftly without having land, faculty including educators and assets for profit generation, the requirements needed to found a university that takes at least six years," a staffer of an association of private universities said.
Further advancing the criticism is last year's passage of a bill with a last-minute amendment whereby the university was to be allowed 25 billion won ($20 million) in the form of a grant in 2022, the surcharge aggregate paid by taxpayers included in their monthly electricity bills. The grant is meant for state-run projects to improve electricity supply in remote, underdeveloped areas, but will be diverted to finance the university.
About 1.6 trillion won will be needed by 2031 for the full construction and operation of the university, which will be shouldered equally between the central and municipal governments.
