'Hongcheon Pumped Storage Power Plant Construction to Proceed as Planned... Minister Kim Sung-hwan Says "No Legal Flaws"'

Ministry Reveals Results of Legal Review

"Unlikely to Constitute Legal Violations"

Suspending Construction Would Lead to 300 Billion Won in Sunk Costs

Supplementary Measures to Address Environmental Concerns

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Aims for Completion in 2032 with 1.7 Trillion Won Investment

The Pungcheonri Pumped Storage Power Plant Construction Opposition Committee submitted a statement to Kim Sung-hwan, Minister of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, during a meeting held on August 5 at the Seoul Hangang Flood Control Office. 2026.8.5. Photo by Heejong Kang

The construction of the Hongcheon Pumped Storage Power Plant in Pungcheon-ri, Gangwon Province, which had been suspended for a month due to opposition from local residents, is expected to proceed as planned. The main authority, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, has confirmed through legal counsel that there were no legal violations. Instead, the Ministry has decided to devise supplementary measures to address concerns about environmental damage and potential economic losses raised by local residents.

On August 5, during a meeting with the "Pungcheon-ri Pumped Storage Power Plant Construction Opposition Committee" held at the Seoul Hangang Flood Control Office, Kim Sung-hwan, Minister of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, stated, "According to legal counsel, it was difficult to find any procedural flaws in the process carried out by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power or the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy at the time," adding, "If the project were halted at this stage, approximately 300 billion won in sunk costs would occur, and this is not a decision the Minister can make alone."

Minister Kim further explained, "It is difficult to suspend the project when there is no legal issue," but added, "We can review supplementary measures, such as minimizing the reduction of pine nut harvesting areas or environmental damage."

The Hongcheon Pungcheon-ri Pumped Storage Power Plant is a major national project through which Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power is investing approximately 1.74 trillion won to build an upper and lower dam and a power plant with a capacity of 600 megawatts (MW) in the Pungcheon-ri area of Hongcheon County by 2032. After breaking ground on a relocation road for National Route 56 in March 2024, work such as forest clearing for the power plant site took place in April this year.

Some local residents and civic environmental groups living nearby have continued to voice opposition since the project was approved in 2019, arguing that it was being pushed through without sufficient consideration and expressing concerns over environmental degradation. However, it is understood that not all the residents in the area slated for submersion oppose the construction.

As opposition persisted, Minister Kim visited Pungcheon-ri on July 4 and decided to halt construction for one month to review the legality of the project. One month later, on this day, the Ministry made public the results of its legal review and outlined future plans. Around 10 residents of Pungcheon-ri attended the meeting.

At the meeting, a Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment official explained, "At the time, various channels were used to collect public opinion, including holding residents' briefing sessions and securing signatures from organizations and residents in support of inviting the project, as well as approval from the county council, the representative body. Multiple legal opinions found it difficult to regard the process as illegal." The Ministry also clarified that even if there had been flaws during the project proposal stage, it would be hard to argue that such defects would affect subsequent approval processes governed by separate laws.

Regarding concerns raised by environmental groups about the environmental impact assessment, the Ministry stated, "Measures have been put in place to supplement the protection of habitats for species such as Asiatic black bears, bats, and the Chinese minnow. Compared to other assessments, there are no significant flaws." The Ministry further explained, "A field survey confirmed the presence of 11 endangered species, and mitigation plans as well as alternative habitat surveys and relocation plans tailored to the characteristics of each species have been prepared."

The Pungcheon-ri Pumped Storage Power Plant Construction Opposition Committee held a press conference on the 5th at the Seoul Hangang Flood Control Office. Photo by Heejong Kang

The Ministry also announced plans to create a total of four ecological model forests inside and outside the project area in order to transplant damaged trees and plant new trees. The four ecological model forests are expected to cover a total area of 50,000 square meters, with plans to transplant 1,740 damaged trees and newly plant 81,413 trees.

In addition, the Ministry intends to establish preventive measures to guard against pollution or fluctuations in water volume in the valley due to the pumped storage power plant construction. An annual post-environmental assessment report will be prepared, and on-site inspections will be strengthened.

Meanwhile, just before the meeting, 30 to 40 residents and nearby environmental groups from Hongcheon County held a press conference calling for the total cancellation of the pumped storage power plant project. In their statement, they asserted, "The project approval process, including resident consent procedures and environmental impact assessments, has been rife with numerous violations of law and various suspicions," and demanded, "A thorough investigation should be carried out to uncover the truth, and all measures available to the government, including legal action, should be pursued."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.