- Urging for Reflection of 'Minimization of Transmission Towers Policy' in National Agenda for Transition to Balanced Development and Renewable Energy

Citizen groups, local governments, farmers' organizations, and climate action groups nationwide jointly held a press conference in front of the National Planning Commission urging the new government to include policies that minimize the construction of ultra-high-voltage transmission lines and substations in the new national agenda.

The press conference held on the 22nd was jointly organized by about ten organizations nationwide, including the Transmission Tower Construction Blank Paperization Jeonbuk Task Force, Climate Citizen Project, Environmental Movement Union, Gyeonggi-Chungnam Environmental Movement Union, 60+ Climate Action, and the National Federation of Farmers. The Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Council's Ultra-High-Voltage Transmission Line Measures Special Committee and residents' committees from areas where transmission line construction is planned, such as Yongin, Geumsan, and Yeongdong, also participated to testify to the local suffering.

They raised their voices, stating, "The construction of 345,000-volt ultra-high-voltage transmission lines is spreading throughout the country," and emphasized that "the unilateral expansion of energy infrastructure without the consent of local residents undermines democratic principles and turns local areas into colonies of the capital region."

The participants of the press conference particularly pointed out the Yongin Semiconductor National Industrial Complex as the core issue. The complex is expected to consume 87.6 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity annually, significantly exceeding the renewable energy production in South Korea as a whole in 2024 (63.2 TWh). The organizations questioned, "Is it in line with a decentralized energy system to plan to handle the energy consumption of a single factory even if all renewable energy in the country is concentrated there?" and demanded a complete reevaluation of the plan.

They also criticized, stating, "The Yongin Semiconductor National Industrial Complex for Samsung is being rushed," and pointed out that it does not align with President Lee Jae-myung's promises of climate crisis response and balanced development. The construction of 46 new ultra-high-voltage transmission lines and 52 substations nationwide to operate the complex was also highlighted as a problem.

They argued, "It is unreasonable to build industrial facilities and power plants in the already saturated capital region," and insisted, "It is more desirable for companies to relocate to regions abundant in renewable energy in terms of realizing RE100, revitalizing local economies, and enhancing power efficiency in all aspects."

At the press conference, there was also a strong demand for expanding public participation in the decision-making process of energy policies. Currently, public opinions are practically excluded in the process of establishing the Basic Plan for Power Supply and Demand and the Long-Term Transmission and Transformation Facility Plan, and laws such as the Electricity Business Act and the Special Act on National Grid Development enable rushed implementation.

The participants emphasized, "Energy transition is not just a technical issue but a matter of democracy," and urged, "Stop the reckless transmission tower construction plans now and establish a just energy policy in collaboration with the residents."