The Korea Power Corporation proposed that Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix each receive a pre‑payment of 20 trillion won and 5 trillion won respectively as energy usage fees. The proposal is based on the energy fee standards set by the two companies last year, and represents an interest rate higher than the 2‑year average for National Treasury Bills but lower than that of Korea Power Corporation’s own bonds. In 2024, the 2‑year yield on National Treasury Bills is about 3.4 % and Korea Power’s 2‑year yield is roughly 3.7 %. The proposal intends to pay these fees through a deduction method rather than cash payments.
Korea Power plans to invest the pre‑paid energy usage fees in large‑scale infrastructure projects such as cluster installations, with the money earmarked for expanding the national power network. Accordingly, it will raise a financing arrangement of about 210 trillion won through its own bond issuance and is expected to increase the amount of bonds issued by up to five times the sum of equity capital and retained earnings by the end of next year.
In July, the Ministry of Finance’s secretary‑general for budget and finance policy met with senior officials from Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to discuss the matter; following that discussion a report was prepared at the Ministry. The opposition member Park Jung‑deul filed an amendment restricting Korea Power’s pre‑payment to be used only for projects designated by presidential order such as expanding the power network.
Korea Power’s proposal of large‑scale energy usage fee pre‑payment reflects a policy intent to use bond financing to expand infrastructure investment in both companies and local communities.