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In recent years, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have received increasing attention and have been reported to be associated with various genetic abnormalities. However, the functions of many lncRNAs, including those of long exonic noncoding RNAs (lencRNAs), have not yet been elucidated. Here, we used a novel tethering luciferase assay to analyze the transcriptional regulatory functions of five lencRNAs that are upregulated in cancer. We found that the lencRNA <i>PRKDC-210</i> interacts with MED12, a component of the CDK8 complex, to regulate the transcription of several genes. The transcriptional activation ability of <i>PRKDC-210</i> was abolished in siRNA-treated CDK8-depleted cells. We also confirmed the enrichment of <i>PRKDC-210</i> on RNA polymerase II. RNA-seq analysis of cells in which <i>PRKDC-210</i> or <i>PRKDC</i> mRNA was knocked down using antisense oligonucleotides revealed that <i>PRKDC-210</i> can affect the expression levels of genes related to fatty acid metabolism. Finally, we used a ChIRP assay to examine <i>PRKDC-210</i>-enriched sites in the genome. Overall, our findings demonstrate that the lencRNA <i>PRKDC-210</i> promotes transcription through the CDK8 complex pathway at the transcription initiation site. We propose that <i>PRKDC-210</i> can affect the transcription of adjacent genes after its transcription and splicing.