"Support Available Around 500,000-Volt Transmission and Substation Facilities... Additional 9.2 Billion Won Support Upon Completion of Bukdangjin~Godeok and East Coast~Capital Area"

'Enforcement Decree of the Act on Compensation and Support for Areas Surrounding 송·변전설비' Submitted and Approved at Cabinet Meeting
Effective from the 19th... "Support for 765kV, 345kV, and 500kV Lines"
HVDC Line from Donghaean to 수도권 Mentioned in 9th Plan Briefing, Support Possible Upon Completion
Ministry of Industry: "Will Enhance Stability of Power Grid Entering 수도권"

The photo shows LS Cable & System's 500,000-volt HVDC test facility. (Photo by LS Cable & System)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] In the future, compensation and support such as land compensation and house purchases will also be possible in areas surrounding 500,000-volt scale transmission and substation facilities, including the Bukdangjin~Godeok High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) converter station. Once the related enforcement decree is implemented, an additional 9.2 billion KRW in support funds will be provided to residents near the Donghaean~Capital Region (Shinhanul~Singapyeong) HVDC line, which is scheduled for completion by the end of next year. The government expects this to ultimately enhance the stability of the power grid entering the capital region.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 12th that the "Enforcement Decree on Compensation and Support for Areas Surrounding Transmission and Substation Facilities" (Transmission Compensation Act Enforcement Decree) was approved at the Cabinet meeting presided over by President Moon Jae-in at the Blue House and will be enforced from the 19th. The Transmission Compensation Act was amended in February to include 500,000-volt transmission and substation facilities, and the enforcement decree aims to specify the details. Until now, support was only available for 765,000-volt and 345,000-volt facilities under the law.

HVDC is a method where high-voltage alternating current generated at power plants is converted into high-voltage direct current using power converters for transmission, and then converted back into alternating current through converters in the receiving area for supply. It is a technology that has attracted attention due to its economic efficiency. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, 500,000-volt transmission and substation facilities operate using direct current, resulting in minimal electromagnetic wave impact, and the size of transmission towers is only 75% of that of 765,000-volt facilities. It is also possible to remove utility poles and communication poles and bury power and communication lines underground ('undergrounding'), which can improve walking environments and urban landscapes.

The enforcement decree applies not only to the Bukdangjin~Godeok converter station, scheduled for completion in July, but also to the Donghaean~Capital Region transmission line. A ministry official said, "With the revision of the Transmission Compensation Act enforcement decree, appropriate compensation and support for residents in surrounding areas will be possible, increasing residents' acceptance of transmission and substation facility construction. For example, when the Bukdangjin~Godeok converter station and the Donghaean~Capital Region line are completed, about 9.2 billion KRW in support funds will be additionally distributed annually to villages in the surrounding areas."

Meanwhile, residents in areas where HVDC facilities are planned to be installed are strongly opposing the project. Earlier, on January 10, the Gangwon Provincial Council's Special Committee on Transmission Line Measures held a residents' meeting to demand the complete cancellation of the Donghaean~Capital Region transmission line construction project. The meeting discussed issues such as the change of plans from the Singyeonggi substation to the Singapyeong converter station, the necessity of constructing the Gangwon switching station, and procedural fairness issues including the process of collecting residents' opinions. Participants at the meeting raised their voices against the erection of transmission towers in Gangwon Province.

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