Naju mayor visits central ministries to push energy agenda

Mayor visits Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy; pushes for five state-owned power generation companies' integrated headquarters to be relocated to Naju

City requests national support for KENTECH energy cluster and high-power semiconductor demonstration infrastructure

Naju, a city in South Jeolla Province set to merge with Gwangju into a special metropolitan city, is pushing for government backing to establish itself as a national hub for the energy industry, leveraging its concentration of state-owned energy companies, research institutions and related businesses.

Naju Mayor Yun Byeong-tae visited the Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in succession on Wednesday, according to the city. He called on both ministries to incorporate key local priorities into national policy and provide central government funding — including the relocation of the integrated headquarters of the five state-owned power generation companies to Naju, the development of a global energy capital, the establishment of an energy cluster at the Korea Institute of Energy Technology (KENTECH), and the expansion of high-power semiconductor demonstration infrastructure.

At the Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy, Yun met with Second Vice Minister Lee Ho-hyeon and Power Industry Policy Director Moon Yang-taek, pressing the case for Naju as the site for the consolidated headquarters of the five power generation companies.

Naju is already home to Korea Electric Power Corporation, the Korea Power Exchange, Kepco Plant Service & Engineering, Korea Electric Power Data Network and KENTECH, alongside companies in the Energy Valley industrial cluster.

Yun said that adding power generation functions to this existing base would allow the city to grow into a national strategic hub covering the entire power industry value chain — from generation, transmission and distribution to power trading, maintenance and information and communications technology.

He also proposed that 25 initiatives across six areas for building a global energy capital be incorporated into national policy.

The key initiatives include attracting energy companies, institutions and research centers to the region; designating an opportunity development zone for the energy sector; expanding KENTECH's enrollment and building an energy cluster; establishing research and demonstration infrastructure for artificial sun technology, superconductors and high-power semiconductors; improving regulations and advancing the energy transition; and expanding education and healthcare infrastructure.

In particular, Yun said 50 billion won ($35.7 million) in central government funding was needed to lay the groundwork — covering 66,000 square meters — for the phased development of a KENTECH energy cluster linked to the Honam region semiconductor cluster.

For a high-power semiconductor module demonstration infrastructure and business support project with a total budget of 40 billion won, Yun requested that 5 billion won in central government funds be allocated for the purchase of testing equipment in 2027.

He also requested institutional and financial support to ensure the stable operation of KENTECH.

Yun called for the appointment of a president — a post that has been vacant for nearly three years — along with amendments to the KENTECH Act, an increase in government grants and a shift of financial support to the general account, saying a sustainable operational foundation for the university was urgently needed.

At the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Yun met with Vice Minister Moon Sin-hak, Semiconductor Division Chief Ahn Hong-sang and Regional Economy Director Lee Jae-seok, briefing them on Naju's key priorities, including the high-power semiconductor module demonstration infrastructure project, and requesting government support.

He said the testing, evaluation and demonstration infrastructure linked to Naju's energy industry base could support technology development and commercialization for related companies, and contribute to the domestic production of key power grid components.

"We will make Naju the backbone city of South Korea's energy industry by securing the integrated headquarters of the five power generation companies and building a global energy capital," Yun said. "We will leverage the strength of our concentration of KENTECH, state-owned energy companies and private businesses to lead the nation's great energy transition and secure Naju's future growth engines without delay."