The Korean authorities have identified 2267 cases of illegally subsidised renewable energy plants, while also identifying subsidised agricultural photovoltaic projects that did not implement agricultural activities.
Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in
South Korea's Office for Policy Coordination (OGPC), a government agency comprising the Office of the State Chancellor and the Office of the Secretary to the State Chancellor, revealed this week that 261 billion won (US$187 million) was illegally obtained for various renewable energy projects managed by former South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
The agency issued an official statement saying that a total of 2267 cases of illegal fund management during the previous administration's five-year term were found in 12 local governments. The cases mainly involved illegal loans, illegal subsidy distribution and collusive bidding. "We will further investigate all the illegal cases that were uncovered and demand the return of illegally distributed subsidies." The OGPC said, noting that the investigation is only for a sample of specific regions and will soon be extended to other regions of the country.
Some of the cases also involve the deployment of solar power parks on agricultural land for mushroom cultivation or insect farming facilities, which were built with the stipulation that the farmland should not be converted to other uses. The agency said, "Although these projects are presented as including mushroom cultivation facilities or insect farming facilities, there is in fact no trace of mushroom cultivation or insect farming there."
The OGPC said that South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) would be involved in the nationwide investigation.
South Korea is currently supporting the development of large-scale solar and renewable energy through a tender programme. These tenders were launched back in 2018 and so far the authorities have allocated around 8.85 GW of solar energy through the relevant tender exercise.