"Reducing New Transmission Towers by 40% and Expanding Underground Cables"... Climate Ministry's Plan to Improve Public Acceptance

Minimizing New Transmission Lines Through Integration with Existing Routes
Reducing New Transmission Towers from 4,723 to 2,509
Holding Resident Briefings from the Earliest Stages of Site Selection

On May 8, 2026, Kim Sung-hwan, Minister of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, is delivering a greeting at a meeting with regional task force leaders for the cancellation of power transmission tower construction at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. Photo by Yonhap News.

In order to improve public acceptance of power transmission line construction, the government has decided to reduce the number of new transmission towers by up to 40% and expand underground cable installation. Additionally, it plans to increase local residents' participation in the site selection process for transmission lines.

On August 5, at the Power Infrastructure Center in Yeouido, Seoul, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, led by Minister Kim Sung-hwan, held the third meeting with local community representatives who oppose power grid construction projects and released a "Plan to Enhance Public Acceptance of Power Grid Construction."

This meeting was organized based on the results of in-depth reviews of local residents' demands and on-site visits to conflict areas following interviews with local representatives after the second meeting on May 8.

On this day, the ministry stated, "Through measures such as regional electricity pricing systems and power grid impact assessments, we aim to encourage large-scale power demand locations outside the Seoul metropolitan area going forward." However, it added, "For the national backbone power grid projects that are already planned and underway to expand renewable energy and ensure stable power supply to advanced industries, we will implement them in ways that minimize the burden on local residents."

According to the plan to enhance public acceptance announced that day, the government will first seek to minimize new transmission lines by merging existing routes and integrating new routes wherever possible. Under the government's proposal, the transmission network—originally 2,169 kilometers long with 4,723 towers—could be reduced by up to 40% to approximately 1,200 kilometers with 2,509 towers through such integration.

The ministry explained, "We will institutionalize a system in which merging new lines with existing routes is prioritized, and detailed matters such as obtaining consent from residents in areas crossed by existing lines will be carefully reviewed during the site selection committee process."

The government also plans to gradually expand underground cable sections, focusing on densely populated private residential areas.

To address previous criticisms about a lack of transparency, the ministry will strengthen the democratic and transparent aspects of the site selection system by holding public briefings for residents from the early stages of site selection. It also plans to implement various measures such as making meeting materials publicly available and expanding opportunities for residents to observe the proceedings.

The ministry intends to fully revise the detailed operating standards for the site selection committee, which are currently managed under Korea Electric Power Corporation's internal regulations, and clearly define them in an official government notice.

Additionally, under the Special Act on Power Grids, the ministry will strengthen the effectiveness of resident support by prioritizing local government compensation for affected residents and preparing best-practice cases for community benefit initiatives such as network income-sharing programs.

After further collecting public feedback on the plan to enhance public acceptance of power grid construction, the government intends to finalize and officially announce the measures soon through the National Backbone Power Grid Expansion Working Committee.

Minister Kim Sung-hwan of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment stated, "Expanding the power grid is an urgent and unavoidable task for the energy transition and nurturing advanced industries. We will minimize the construction of new transmission towers, ensure transparent site selection, and provide sufficient compensation and support as key principles to minimize the burden on residents during power grid construction and to maintain sincere communication with the community."

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