Knowledge economy minister to take responsibility for nationwide blackouts

(ATTN: ADDS Choi's comment in paras 4,7,8, presidential office's response from 10th para) SEOUL, Sept. 18 (Yonhap) -- Knowledge Economy Minister Choi Joong-kyung on Sunday said he will take full responsibility over the recent nationwide blackouts that inconvenienced many businesses and private citizens. In a news conference, Choi said he did not plan to cling to his post, hinting that he may step down, for the power failure that was caused on Thursday by the sudden surge in demand for electricity during unseasonably high temperatures. "I take all responsibility for the incident as the minister in charge of the country's energy policies," he said, adding that every effort will be made to prevent a recurrence of such an unprecedented disruption to the country's power supply. "I would like to offer an apology to the people again for causing trouble and anxiety," said Choi. The blackouts were compounded because many of the country's power plants, including some of its nuclear reactors, were offline for regular maintenance. Power outages were reported in Seoul and neighboring regions, with an estimated 1.62 million households across the country experiencing temporary blackouts on Thursday. The blackouts took place as the country's electricity reserve fell to as low as 6 percent of overall demand, far below the 7 percent rate that is considered the minimum safety margin. "I had no time to deal with the accident," said Choi. "I could've asked to the people to refrain from using huge air conditioners, if the right reserve level was reported to me at least by 10 a.m. or noon." He said that he received a false report about the electricity reserve level, as energy officials failed to count the exact amount of power production at that time. He said that the actual reserve rate reached a mere 240,000 kilowatts at 3 p.m., under which the government should take immediate actions such as suspending power supply with advance warning. Choi also said that the ministry would start taking reports of damage caused by the blackouts on Tuesday so compensations can be made. Meanwhile, Choeng Wa Dae will not accept Choi's resignation immediately but decided to ask him to step down after he settles the incident, a high-ranking official from presidential office said. "Choi said he would not stick to the post, this is the point," he said. "But bringing the situation under control is more important and urgent than his resignation." Another source said that Choi has visited Yim Tae-hee, the presidential chief of staff before holding the news conference and offered his resignation. "Choi told Yim that he will take political responsibility for the power outages," said the source. President Lee Myung-bak has harshly rebuked electricity officials Friday over the nationwide blackouts, assuring that he will call those in charge of the energy affairs to account.