Parliamentary Knowledge Economy
Committee Focuses
on Economic Recovery, Energy

Chairman Jung says his committee is committed to easing difficulties facing the general public

Chairman Jung says his committee is committed to easing difficulties facing the general public

The following are excerpts of a written interview by Jung Jang-seon, chairman of the National Assembly Knowledge Economy Committee, who is a lawmaker in the Democratic Party.
Question: Will you tell our readers about the direction of the National Assembly Knowledge Economy Committee?
Answer: As you know, the functions of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy are divided into industry, trade, energy and the business area, related to the info-tech industry, a job handled by the now-defunct Ministry of Information and Telecommunication. The areas, the real, micro-economy, are closely related to the livelihoods of the general public. Accordingly, the committee attaches a priority to handling policies and enacting bills to ease difficulties facing the general public.
Speaking in short, SMEs and self-employed people suffer many difficulties caused by the economic downturn. In particular, it is necessary to revamp policies and bills designed to benefit middle- and low-income people who bear the brunt of the recession. We will intensively consider diverse bills designed to tide over crude oil price hikes and energy problems.
Q: What steps do you think need to be taken in overseas crude oil exploration?
A: In foreign countries, governments, companies and other circles are making concerted efforts toward securing energy resources, considered to be essential for survival. The established theory is that the diverse major conflicts that break out around the globe these days are caused by factors related to natural resources. The reality is that energy supply has been expanded to a concept of national security beyond just natural resources.
The government needs to aggressively concentrate its diplomatic capabilities on securing natural resources while making diversified and practical efforts by linking such strategies as government development assistance, policy financial support and trade insurance.
These issues should be nonpartisan. I'll active with the Energy and Food Resources Forum, which I formed with Rep. Chung Byung-kuk of the Grand National Party when the 18th National Assembly was inaugurated.
As the chairman of the committee that oversees a major ministry, I'll do my best in laying the foundation for making Korea a natural resources powerhouse by gathering diverse study research achievements and views from several walks of life and harmonizing government policies.
Q: What support steps need to be taken to foster the new and renewable energy industries?
A: The national energy master plan, worked out by the government, calls for raising the portion of new and renewable energy sources from the current 2.4 percent to 11 percent by 2030. The government initially drafted the plan with a target of raising the portion to 9 percent in 2030, then raised it to 11 percent at a public hearing held on Aug. 7, but suggested a proposal with a target of more than 20 percent in a speech President Lee Myung-bak delivered in celebration of the anniversary of the Aug. 15 Liberation Day.
However, the government said the nation could achieve a new and renewable energy target of 9 percent by 2030 only when our resources are fully mobilized, during a meeting with the domestic press on the national energy master plan.
The problem is that target numbers are changed frequently, depending on the atmosphere and situation, without prior scrutiny.
It is significant to establish plans compatible to our capability given our territorial environment and fiscal size, as government authorities conceded, whereas it also needs to set an aggressive target in consideration of the full growth potential.
Energy issues are long-term tasks that require the fundamental change of social systems. We have to strive to build up a structure of low-energy consumption and develop as many renewable energy sources as possible in the long-term rather than sticking to short-term numbers and targets.
Q: What steps do you suggest to support the electricity industry, particularly the nuclear power industry?
A: The national energy master plan, announced by the government this past August, contains key points, including a policy designed to raise the portion of nuclear power facilities and nuclear power generation to 41 percent and 59 percent by 2030, respectively.
The government should give a plausible explanation to claims by environmental and civic energy organizations that the plan puts more weight on nuclear power supply rather than on the development of new and renewable energy resources.
First of all, a social consensus needs to be reached to develop more nuclear power units. So many tasks need to be performed such as securing sites and raising necessary funds -- 111.5 trillion won by 2030.
The government plan calls for building 10 or 11 more 1.4 million kW-class nuclear power units, but the size of sites for the construction of nuclear power units the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) has now secured is just for six units.
Generally speaking, given the fact that it takes about 12 years to secure and dedicate nuclear power unit sites, it is necessary to secure sufficient sites by the middle of 2012, a daunting task as there is the issue of the residents'acceptance of nuclear power units.
In addition, there still remains the bigger issue of treating spent fuel, high-level radioactive waste, since the nation suffered immense social conflicts and chaos in securing a low- and mid-level radwaste facility site in Gyeongju. I'll worried about how to cope with the issue, which is feared to touch off more social conflicts and confrontation. I think that the government should humbly take such an issue into consideration when implementing the upcoming project.
Q: What parliamentary activities are your priority areas?
A: Warning signals against the national economy are coming lately. Even though a possible crisis in September that could be caused by the maturity of massive foreign debts was avoided, there are still fundamental factors other than that. I have a strong sense of responsibility as the chairman of the National Assembly Knowledge Economy Committee dealing with the real economy, since overall, the economy is in bad shape and people feel that it is worsening.
The committee is the subject of the public limelight because it is closely related to the livelihood of people and energy policies have emerged as national tasks lately.
The pending issues the committee will have to deal with are creating jobs, the strengthening of SMEs'competitive edge, expanding new growth engines, overcoming energy crises, aggressive overseas resources exploration and countermeasures designed to cope with climate change as well as the IT-related job, added to the MKE following a merger with the Ministry of Information and Communications, which are all considered to be essential.
I'll do my best in making the committee a body for working for ordinary people and working in the field.
Q: What detailed parliamentary activities do you want to be engaged in
A: The most important thing on which I concentrate is to turn around the economy for ordinary people. Next comes the solution of energy problems. In the field, the current plenary session of the parliament will take a close look at steps to stabilize energy prices, energy supply during winter and promote energy welfare for low-income earners. In addition, such real economy issues as the expansion of new growth engines, trade, the IT sector, the strengthening of SME's competitive edge, issues related to low-income and self-employed people, conventional markets and job creation are in our jurisdiction.
Q: Will you comment on your political creeds and philosophy?
A: Since 2000 when I was elected as a parliamentarian for the first time, I've been striving to make good on my initial determination to conduct political activities up to the people's expectations and demands. To this end, I've been standing firm on my political creeds: conducting practical political activities focusing on the economy for ordinary people and holding a conviction of working according to minds of the general public.
I am sorry for the fact that the parliament is divided, engrossed in conflicts and confrontation, not making politics a hope for people and not solving issues such as creating jobs. Even though the 18th parliament was inaugurated belatedly, to the disappointment of the public, I'll strive to make the parliament an institution of public opinions working for the benefit of the people by revamping things one after the other from now on. nw

Jung Jang-seon, chairman of the National Assembly Knowledge Economy Committee