Hanam blocks KEPCO substation over demands
The city delays key power project near Seoul, pressing KEPCO to build an art center in return for approving critical infrastructure expansion.
Image for illustrative purposes
South Korea, Hanam City: The city of Hanam in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, is preventing Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) from moving forward with the expansion of the Dongseoul substation, while tying project approval to the construction of a cultural facility.
Officials in Hanam have requested that KEPCO build an art center to win local support for the substation project. Such facilities typically cost around $29.25 M (40 B won), a figure not included in KEPCO’s initial project budget. The state-owned utility expressed concerns over the feasibility of fulfilling such demands, especially given that it manages nearly 900 substations across the country.
As energy demand surges in the Seoul metropolitan area – driven by the rapid growth of data centers and semiconductor clusters – experts are increasingly critical of local resistance to essential infrastructure. Some analysts describe Hanam’s stance as prioritizing local interests at the expense of national power stability.
Although KEPCO secured a favorable decision from the Gyeonggi-do Administrative Appeals Commission in December 2024, the city has so far only granted approval for an indoor substation facility. Expansion of the critical transformer infrastructure remains on hold due to continued opposition from residents.
Kang Cheon-gu, a visiting professor at Inha University, suggested offering more practical community benefits, such as reduced electricity rates for nearby residents, as a potential compromise to move the project forward.
Source: Pulse
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