Lee Hyun-bin, former executive vice president of KEPCO (Korea Electric Power Corporation), has been appointed as the next president of KOEN (Korea South-East Power).
According to the energy industry on September 30, 2026, the Public Institutions Management Committee has decided Lee as the final candidate for KOEN president and notified KOEN accordingly. The appointment still requires approval at an extraordinary shareholders meeting, nomination by the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment, and presidential appointment.
Filling a seven-month vacancy
The KOEN presidency has been vacant for approximately seven months since former president Kang Ki-yoon stepped down in February to run in local elections. The appointment is expected to resolve the management gap.
Lee, born in 1963, graduated from Deoksu Commercial High School and earned a degree in business administration from Korea University of Foreign Studies. He joined KEPCO in 1986 and held positions including director of the Power Trading Division, director of the Power Market Division, secretary to the president, director of Human Resources, head of the KEPCO University establishment task force, and executive vice president of Management Support. After retiring, he served as representative director of Kepco ES, a KEPCO subsidiary.
Integration and energy transition challenges
Once Lee takes office as president, his major tasks are expected to include responding to the integration of five Gencos, addressing the transition away from coal power, and expanding renewable energy. The government is pursuing the integration of five Gencos: KOEN, Korea Midland Power, Korea Western Power, Korea Southern Power, and EWP (Korea East-West Power). The plan is to launch the integrated Genco entity in October 2027. Lee's experience in KEPCO management support and power markets is drawing attention for what role it may play in the Genco integration process.
KOEN is among the major power generators with a large share of coal-fired generation, so it must address issues of power plant operations, workforce, and regional economies during the coal transition.
KOEN is pursuing construction start on renewable energy projects totaling 1 gigawatt in scale, including 400 megawatts of solar power at the Haenam New Renewable Complex and 600 megawatts of offshore wind at Wando Geumil. The accumulated renewable energy project rights it has secured total 7.7 gigawatts.
KWI developer profile — KOEN
8 projects in Korea totalling 2,414 MW. Compiled from the KWI database. Not part of the source article.
Wando Geumil Offshore Wind — this article| Capacity | 600 MW | | Location | Wando-gun, Jeonnam | | Developer | KOEN | | Status | Bid Awarded in 2023 | | Licence | Electricity Business Licence 2018, 2021 | | EIA | main-phase consultation completed (ME2022C019) |
| |
Yeonggwang Wind Farm (offshore section) Offshore Wind| Capacity | 34.5 MW | | Location | Yeonggwang-gun, Jeonnam | | Developer | Unison · KOEN · Daehan Green Energy | | Status | In Operation | | Licence | Electricity Business Licence 2015 |
| |
Tamra Offshore Wind| Capacity | 30 MW | | Location | Hangyeong-myeon, Jeju | | Developer | KOEN · Doosan Enerbility | | Status | In Operation |
| |
Sinan 1 Offshore Wind| Capacity | 405 MW | | Location | Sinan-gun, Jeonnam | | Developer | KEPCO (80%) · KOEN (20%) | | Status | EBL Approved | | Licence | Electricity Business Licence 2026 |
| |
Sinan 2 Offshore Wind| Capacity | 405 MW | | Location | Sinan-gun, Jeonnam | | Developer | KEPCO (80%) · KOEN (20%) | | Status | EBL Approved | | Licence | Electricity Business Licence 2026 |
| |
Deokjuk Offshore Wind| Capacity | 320 MW | | Location | Ongjin-gun, Incheon | | Developer | KOEN | | Status | EBL Approved | | Licence | Electricity Business Licence 2023 |
| |
Yongyu Mui Jawol Offshore Wind| Capacity | 320 MW | | Location | Jung-gu, Incheon | | Developer | KOEN | | Status | EBL Approved | | Licence | Electricity Business Licence 2021 |
| |
Jeonnam POSCO-KOEN Offshore Wind| Capacity | 300 MW | | Location | Sinan-gun, Jeonnam | | Developer | KOEN · Posco Energy | | Status | EBL Approved | | Licence | Electricity Business Licence 2017 | | EIA | main-phase consultation under way (ME2024C012 + YS20220023) |
| |
Project data: KWI database — Electricity Business Licence records, EIA filings (ME2022C019, ME2024C012 + YS20220023), Electricity Regulatory Commission minutes, and pre-EBL permit filings.
Original Korean article: todayenergy.kr
English brief by Korea Wind Intelligence, koreawindintel.com
