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In the midst of this, the government's 3rd quarter electricity rate announcement scheduled for today (20th) was suddenly delayed.

The government pointed out that before KEPCO said that it should raise rates, it should make more efforts on its own for management efficiency and cost reduction.

He also ordered KEPCO executives to return last year's performance pay.



Reporter Jang Hoon-kyung pointed out why the government is taking this step ahead of the rate hike.



<Reporter> The



government delayed the decision on electricity rates for the third quarter this morning, and severely criticized KEPCO.



Before asking for a raise, he said that we should do more self-rescue efforts.



KEPCO said last month that it would raise about 6 trillion won by selling its subsidiaries and real estate, but he criticized that it was not enough.



[Cho Kyung-ho / Deputy Prime Minister of Economy: Why did it happen, why?

Wasn't there a time when KEPCO was profitable?

KEPCO needs self-reflection as to why KEPCO has become this way over the past five years.]



Four hours after this remark, I advised KEPCO's management to return last year's performance pay.



KEPCO said that seven executives, including the president, would immediately return their bonuses, and about 360 key executives would also offer half of them, but it seems difficult to come up with more self-help measures.



[Seung-Hoon Yoo/Professor of Energy Policy, Seoul National University of Science and Technology: KEPCO spends 87% of its total cost to buy electricity.

In the end, without reducing the cost of purchasing electricity...

This problem cannot be solved by scolding KEPCO.]



KEPCO has requested the government to raise electricity rates by 3 won per kilowatt-hour in the third quarter.



The burden increases by 1,000 won per month on average for a four-person household.



As KEPCO's deficit is expected to reach 7.7 trillion won in the first quarter and 30 trillion won for the year as a whole, a rate hike seems inevitable.



A government official also said that he is considering either raising 3 won or freezing it, or either one, and an announcement will be made within this week.



In the end, it is read with the intention of showing efforts to minimize the price burden ahead of the announcement.



(Video coverage: Kim Min-cheol, Video editing: Choi Jin-hwa)



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