Kentek President's absence approaches 3 years... Discussing procedures for public offering at the Presidential Recommendation Committee within this month

Two misfires so far... Discussing procedures for public offering at the Presidential Recommendation Committee within this month

(Naju = Yonhap News) Reporter Jeon Seung-hyun = The absence period of the president of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology (KENTECH) is approaching three years.

The unusually prolonged absence of the president is raising concerns about major decisions related to school operation, so there are loud voices calling for special attention to Kentek, including the appointment of a president as soon as possible.

According to Kentek on the 15th, Kentek has been operating under an acting president system for 2 years and 9 months since the first president, Yun Eui-jun, voluntarily resigned in December 2023.

President Yoon, who was serving a four-year term at the time, took responsibility for the results of the audit of Kentek by the Government Board of Audit and Inspection Yoon Seok-yeol and resigned with about one year and five months remaining in his term.

The University President Recommendation Committee held a public contest for the president twice, but once, the candidate recommended by the University President Recommendation Committee was rejected by the Board of Directors in February.

In another case, in July of this year, the President Recommendation Committee concluded that there was ‘no qualified candidate’ and no recommendation was made to the Board of Directors.

The board of directors consists of 12 directors, including the president of Korea Electric Power Corporation, who is the chairman of the board, and officials and experts from Kentek, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the Ministry of Education, and Jeonnam Province, and one auditor.

When the board of directors selects a candidate for president, he or she will take office after approval from the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment and consent from the Minister of Education. However, it is known that the lack of coordination with the government has caused a setback in the appointment of the president.

It is reported that Kentek will hold a full meeting of the President Recommendation Committee again within this month to decide on details such as the period for the Presidential Contest.

A Kentek official said, "In a situation where there are a lot of major issues such as revision of the Special Act on the School of Energy Engineering, expansion of student quota, and expansion of finances, members are very worried about the prolonged absence of the president. We will make efforts to have a president appointed within this year."

Previously, Jeonnam Gwangju civic groups and economic groups said, "As the president's absence is prolonged, there are concerns about setbacks in establishing university development strategies, attracting national research projects, and securing excellent teachers," and urged, "We must quickly appoint a president with expertise to normalize Korea Institute of Energy Technology."