"Power Grid Siting Committee Suspended for One Month"...Will There Be a Solution to Transmission Line Conflicts?

Second Meeting with Power Grid Construction Opposition Representatives
Improving Ways to Reflect Residents' Opinions in the Siting Committee
Alternative Routes Also Under Review

On the 8th, the second meeting was held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, chaired by Kim Sung-hwan, Minister of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, with the delegation of the Anti-Power Grid Construction Committee. Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment

The activities of the Power Grid Siting Committee, which are currently underway nationwide, will be suspended for one month. During this period, the government plans to introduce institutional improvements aimed at strengthening the fairness and transparency of the siting selection process. Additionally, new sites proposed by local residents will also be reviewed.

On May 8, Lee Jaesik, Director of Power Grid Policy at the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, briefed reporters on these outcomes following the "Second Meeting with the Power Grid Construction Opposition Committee Delegation," which was chaired by Minister Kim Sung-hwan and held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido.

This meeting was the second of its kind, following the first held on April 10. It brought together the government, Korea Electric Power Corporation, and the opposition committee to assess ongoing conflicts arising in the process of power grid construction and to discuss directions for institutional improvements to enhance resident acceptance.

At the meeting, the Ministry introduced measures to strengthen the representativeness of Siting Committee members, discussed benefits for residents in transmission grid areas, and outlined plans to involve external experts in the formulation of long-term transmission and substation facility plans, while also listening to the opinions of the opposition committee.

According to attendees, the opposition committee pointed out procedural issues, such as the current nationwide Power Grid Siting Committees not adequately reflecting residents’ opinions.

Consequently, the Ministry and the opposition committee delegation agreed to first suspend the committee's activities for one month and seek alternatives. Lee Jaesik, Director of Power Grid Policy, stated, "Over the next month, we will mainly discuss how to substantively reflect residents' opinions," and added, "We also plan to seriously consider the alternative routes proposed by residents."

The Power Grid Siting Committee is a key entity established under the Special Act on Expansion of National Backbone Power Grids (the Power Grid Special Act), tasked with selecting the optimal candidates for siting power facilities and minimizing social conflict arising in the process. The committee reviews and decides on the sites and routes for power grid facilities such as transmission lines and substations. Its members include resident representatives, local governments, experts, and Korea Electric Power Corporation.

Due to opposition from local residents, the construction of transmission lines has been delayed, prompting the National Assembly to enact the Special Act on National Power Grids in February last year. However, since the law came into effect in September last year, opposition from local residents at candidate transmission sites has grown even stronger. Opposition committees have formed in regions such as Jeolla, Chungcheong, and Gyeonggi. Eight representatives from the opposition committee attended the meeting on this day.

Meanwhile, at the meeting, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment unveiled a set of improvement measures to strengthen the acceptance of residents opposed to power grid construction.

The Ministry announced its intention to enhance procedural legitimacy and transparency in the formulation of long-term transmission and substation facility plans—just as with the Basic Plan for Power Supply and Demand—by involving private sector experts and holding public hearings.

The Ministry also plans to consider revising the Enforcement Decree of the Compensation and Support for Areas Surrounding Transmission and Substation Facilities Act (Transmission Support Act) to link the total support budget to inflation rates, allowing for annual increases in support for areas around transmission and substation facilities.

Additionally, the Ministry will pursue amendments to the Enforcement Decree of the Power Grid Special Act to ensure that priority support is provided to residents affected by transmission line projects. Although the Power Grid Special Act stipulates that local governments through which overhead transmission lines pass receive 2 billion won per kilometer, there have been criticisms that these benefits do not effectively reach local residents.

Separately, the Ministry also plans to create additional income opportunities for residents living near transmission grids through grid-related revenue. The Ministry will review the structure and procedures of such projects, eligible participants, funding sources, and necessary institutional improvements.

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