According to reports, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) has put forward a proposal for Samsung Electronics to make an advance payment of KRW 20 trillion (approximately USD 15 billion) in electricity fees. This move is aimed at bolstering its power grid expansion project slated to run through 2031. Concurrently, KEPCO has also proposed that SK Hynix make an advance payment of KRW 5 trillion. KEPCO clarified that it has presented prepayment plans to significant power consumers, including Samsung and SK Hynix. However, specifics such as the participating entities, interest rates, payment amounts, and terms remain under negotiation and are yet to be finalized. KEPCO emphasized that this initiative is designed to cater to the escalating investment needs of semiconductor and artificial intelligence data center projects, ensuring a reliable power supply for companies embarking on new factory constructions. The power company intends to utilize these prepayments for the construction of transmission and substation networks. Additionally, it will offer companies interest rates that surpass the yield of two-year Korean government bonds, providing an attractive incentive for advance payments.