Sinan-gun, Anjwa-myeon Transmission Line Electromagnetic Waves Threaten Student and Resident Safety

Sinan-gun Prepares Measures to Address Design Discrepancies

Conflict Expected with Residents Over Electromagnetic Wave Hazard Standards Measures

A pedestrian prohibition sign is erected in front of Anjwa Middle School, Anjwa-myeon, Sinan-gun. / Photo by Asia Economy

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Seo Young-seo] Safety measures have not been established for the transmission lines at two substations in Anjwa-myeon, Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, where electromagnetic waves are measured to be hundreds of times higher than everyday levels, causing disruptions to students' commuting and residents' safety.

Sinan-gun has judged that the electromagnetic waves generated here are not harmful to the human body and plans to prepare countermeasures for parts constructed differently from the design, but it is uncertain whether residents will accept this.

According to parents and Sinan-gun officials, it was confirmed last month that electromagnetic waves exceeding hundreds of times the everyday level are generated from the high-voltage transmission lines, and students of Anjwa Middle School have been forced to take detours instead of using the usual commuting routes.

Sinan-gun, which is focusing on renewable energy projects such as solar power and offshore wind power, approved two substations operated by KEPCO and private companies about 50 meters away from Changmari village in Anjwa-myeon. As a result, a 154,000-volt transmission line passes underground through the middle of the village, causing electromagnetic wave issues.

When the electromagnetic wave problem emerged, Sinan-gun confirmed discrepancies from the design drawings and announced plans to establish supplementary measures for those parts, but even after nearly a month, students and residents continue to experience inconvenience and suffer from electromagnetic wave risks.

The construction plan stipulated that the high-voltage lines should be buried at a depth of more than 80 cm, but in some sections, the high-voltage lines were buried only 20 cm deep.

As a result, residents claimed that 100 mG, which is 50 times the everyday level of 2 milligauss (mG), was detected, and near the school, 400 mG, 200 times the everyday level, was detected.

The construction company explained that this was an unavoidable measure due to underground structures, but it was confirmed that no design changes were made.

With poor construction suspected as one cause of excessive electromagnetic wave leakage, Sinan-gun stated that “it is not a harmful level to the human body,” raising concerns about conflicts with residents.

After the issue arose, Sinan-gun ordered the construction company to take countermeasures, and on the 11th, the company proposed to Sinan-gun a method of covering the transmission lines with electromagnetic wave shielding facilities rather than burying them deeper.

In response, a Sinan-gun official said, “This is not a fundamental solution, so we extended the guidance period and asked them to present a new plan by the 21st,” adding, “We requested re-construction as soon as possible.”

He also explained, “The electromagnetic wave level judged as harmful to the human body in Korea is 833 mG,” and “The 400 mG detected on site was measured by placing the device directly on the ground, and electromagnetic waves disperse and weaken when emitted into the air.”

Sinan-gun plans to find common ground through a residents’ briefing session once the company prepares a new countermeasure.

However, the domestic standard of “833 mG” presented by Sinan-gun is the recommended limit by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, which refers to a temporary shock value.

This standard is set 200 to 400 times higher compared to Sweden and the Netherlands, which established their standards based on the precautionary principle.

Electromagnetic waves from high-voltage transmission lines are classified as Group 2B carcinogens by the World Health Organization and are known to be tens to hundreds of times higher than 3 to 4 mG, which increases the incidence of childhood leukemia.

Kim Seong-gi, the operating committee chairman of the Sinan-gun Education Participation Committee, said, “If the company’s negligence is confirmed, the committee is considering filing a complaint,” and added, “Fundamental measures must be established to ensure the safety of students and residents.”

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