National Power: “There was no agreement with SK to host AIDC in Gangneung”… Call for investigation of Woo Sang-ho

Request for quick transfer to Gangwon Police Agency... Police "Strict investigation according to laws and principles"

(Chuncheon = Yonhap News) Reporter Park Young-seo = The People Power Party called for a thorough investigation into the publication of false information, saying that it was confirmed that there was no specific agreement with SK regarding Gangwon Province Governor Woo Sang-ho's announcement of success in attracting a 1GW AI Data Center (AIDC) in Gangneung during the local elections.

People Power Party lawmakers Lee Cheol-gyu, Kang Myeong-gu, and Seo Myeong-ok, and attorneys Oh Se-in and Kang Dae-gyu, who represent the accuser, held a press conference in front of the Gangwon Police Agency on the 10th and claimed, "It has been confirmed that SK only gave a basic answer, saying, 'We can go anywhere as long as we have power and land' when Governor Woo proposed a data center in Gangneung."

He continued, "There was no agreement on the location and size of the data center, investment conditions, investment amount, etc.," and emphasized, "As Governor Woo said, there was no final agreement with the top owner to build a data center in Gangneung."

They pointed out, "According to KEPCO President Kim Dong-cheol's response to this year's government audit, SK has never inquired about whether KEPCO could supply power to build a data center in Gangneung. There is no way the company will make a final agreement to build a data center while the power issue is not resolved."

At the same time, he said, "As Governor Woo has lost the trust of the residents of the province due to this issue, he is holding back on the data center that the former governor and the mayor of Gangneung have been promoting, while turning his back on the story by saying that the Donghae City data center is progressing normally." He urged, "Don't answer the question, but answer honestly why he lied about having reached a final agreement with the top owner of SK regarding the Gangneung data center."

Rep. Lee and others said, “The core of the problem is the issue of morality and credibility of the person in charge of provincial administration who was elected under false pretenses and stole power,” and added, “I hope that Governor Woo will not turn this issue into a political debate.”

They demanded, “The police should not sit back and forth, but should conduct a thorough investigation and forward the case as soon as possible.”

After the press conference, lawmakers Lee Cheol-gyu, Kang Myeong-gu, and Seo Myeong-ok met with Gangwon Police Agency Chief Kwak Byeong-woo as a protest to demand an investigation and said, "The statute of limitations is approaching and the investigation is taking too long, so we asked for a quick and strict investigation."

These lawmakers also added, "If the hosting of the data center is not confirmed, there is nothing to investigate further for publishing false information," and protested whether they were trying to delay the investigation and then not forward it to the police, or whether they were trying to induce a non-indictment by preventing the Public Prosecution Office from having enough time to review the case.

At this meeting, Commissioner Kwak is said to have responded, "We will conclude the investigation in time so that the Public Prosecution Office can dispose of it before the statute of limitations expires," and "We are conducting the investigation strictly in accordance with the law and principles without prejudice."

Rep. Lee and others said, “If the Public Prosecution Office does not take action before the statute of limitations, we have no choice but to respond by suspending the statute of limitations through a financial application.”