<Anchor> The



price of gas has already risen a lot these days, but the gas price goes up again after a month.

In the second half of this year, gas as well as electricity rates are expected to rise.



Reporter Hoon-Kyung Jang will tell you.



<Reporter>



At a gomtang restaurant in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, the gas bill costs 4 million won per month because you have to brew the soup all day.



However, from next month, the fee will increase and you will have to pay an additional 350,000 won.



[CEO Jeong Sang-chae / Gomtang Specialty Store: All prices are going up for a bit, but even public charges like this…

.

(Distancing) It was relaxed and I was expecting it...

.]



It's only been a month since the gas rate went up on the 1st.



The range of increase is set at 8.4% to 9.4% depending on the use, but after some unit price adjustments, the monthly average will rise by 2,450 won per household.



Also, if the rate is raised by July and October, the average household will have to pay an additional 4,600 won per month.



In the meantime, despite the international gas price increase, the rate has been pushed down because of inflation, but the rate was raised when the deficit and receivables accumulated by the KOGAS reached 1.8 trillion won as of the end of last year due to the rate that was less than the import price.



The possibility of an electricity rate hike came from the takeover committee.



KEPCO's deficit was due to an incorrect pricing policy, emphasizing the principle of being paid at cost.



[Park Joo-heon/Expert Member of Economics Division 2nd Subcommittee: In the second half of this year, looking at the international energy market situation, I think that the decision will be made based on costism rather than conventional practice.]



KEPCO is already expected to record a loss of over KRW 5 trillion in the first quarter of this year .

It's possible.



As the deficit continues to accumulate and the Bank of Korea forecasts that raw material prices may continue to rise even if the Ukraine crisis eases, pressure to raise rates is expected to increase.



(Video coverage: Jeon Gyeong-bae, Video editing: Park Chun-bae)