President Lee Jae-myung nominated Kim Jeong-gwan, the president of Doosan Enerbility, as the candidate for Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy on the 29th, leading to interpretations that he is distancing from the nuclear phase-out policy. Doosan Enerbility is a representative corporation in the nuclear power sector. A government official noted, "President Lee is well aware of the necessity of nuclear power, as he has promised to make Korea one of the top three nations in artificial intelligence (AI)."

Candidate Kim is regarded as a key contributor to securing a nuclear power contract in the Czech Republic worth 407 billion koruna (approximately 26 trillion won). He held the position of marketing manager at Doosan Enerbility, conducting nuclear power sales in the Czech Republic as well as in new markets like the Philippines and Kazakhstan.

Kim Jeong-kwan, the nominee for Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, appointed under Lee Jae-myung's government, arrives at the office of the preparation committee for the personnel hearing established at the Korea Technology Center in Gangnam, Seoul, on the morning of the 30th, expressing his thoughts on the nomination. /News1

The nuclear power industry is breathing a sigh of relief following the nomination of Candidate Kim. This is because President Lee Jae-myung has expressed intentions to invest 100 trillion won in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry to make Korea an AI powerhouse while emphasizing renewable energy in energy policy during that time. The energy sector anticipates a balanced approach that incorporates both nuclear and renewable energy, rather than pursuing a one-sided nuclear phase-out policy.

To advance AI development, expanding power infrastructure is essential. A single data center requires about 1.3 GWh of electricity. This corresponds to the power usage of 100,000 households over one day.

Moreover, the currently under-construction Yongin semiconductor cluster will need over 10 GW of electricity by 2055. This amount accounts for a quarter of the electricity demand in the metropolitan area. Expanding the power grid has become a prerequisite for the semiconductor industry as well.

Lee Jae-myung delivers a congratulatory speech at the launch ceremony of the Ulsan Artificial Intelligence (AI) data center held at the Ulsan Exhibition and Convention Center on the 20th. /Presidential Office Photojournalist Group

Experts predict that the Lee Jae-myung government will continue to operate the currently active nuclear power plants while gradually increasing the share of renewable energy such as wind and solar power. Recently, the Nuclear Safety And Security Commission decided to decommission the Kori Unit 1, indicating that the nuclear decommissioning industry is expected to be nurtured as well.

President Lee Jae-myung said during the Democratic Party's primary candidate TV debate in April, "Even if we move toward a renewable energy-centered society, a base load power is required, and it's unstable due to the intermittent nature of renewable energy. We must appropriately balance the necessity of nuclear power and the risks associated with it, necessitating an energy mix."

An official in the nuclear power industry remarked, "Since Candidate Kim has served as a public official for a long time, he is likely to have a high understanding of the President's energy mix policy," adding, "Doosan Enerbility is also engaged in liquefied natural gas (LNG) steam turbines and offshore wind projects, so we expect it to maintain stability and carry out energy policies effectively."

SK hynix Yongin semiconductor cluster first phase fab construction site /SK hynix newsroom