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Government departments are arguing over the electricity and gas price hikes.



We will freeze the utility bill, no, we will raise the rate, and different words came out in one day, but reporter Lee Hye-mi pointed out why this is happening.



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Last Sunday, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance announced that it would freeze electricity and gas rates for next year to stabilize prices.



He also promised to curb increases in local utility rates such as public transportation and water and sewage.



However, a day later, there was a report that the household city gas rate would increase by around 10% from the beginning of next year.



The source was the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.



The announcements of the two ministries on the rate hike were mixed.



The Consumer Price Index released by the National Statistical Office last month rose 3.7% from the same period of the previous year, the highest in about 10 years.



In response to the sharp rise, the government raised its inflation forecast for next year to 2%.



The Ministry of Economy and Finance opposes the increase in utility rates, fearing the side effects of rising prices.



On the other hand, the Ministry of Industry believes that a rate hike is inevitable due to the severe cost pressure.



International oil prices have risen by 60% since the beginning of the year, and international natural gas prices have risen sixfold.



Nevertheless, the position of the Ministry of Industry is that electricity costs are still below the original cost, and gas prices have also been frozen since July of last year, leading to an accumulation of deficits in public enterprises.



As differences between ministries caused confusion in the market, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy issued clarifications and explained that next year's gas rate increase has not been decided, and that it is in discussion with the Ministry of Strategy and Finance.



The results of the negotiations between the two ministries are expected to be announced on the 20th.



(Video editing: Lee Seung-yeol, VJ: Jung Min-goo)