End NIMBYism, secure a stable electricity supply

Electrical grids not only determine the quality of electricity but also the competitiveness of our industry.

Hanam mayor Lee Hyun-jae started his career as an official at the Ministry of Trade and Resources in the past. He later took up key posts, including the office in charge of electricity, at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and served as chair of the policy committee of a conservative party as a two-term lawmaker. But he didn’t approve a plan by the Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) to boost its electricity transmission facilities in the city despite the strong need to transmit electricity produced in the east coast to the capital region.

Kepco has threatened to file a suit against the mayor. “We found no safety issues with our plan and met all legal requirements,” said the state utility company. If the additional electricity grids cannot be completed by June 2026, electricity can’t be supplied to the ongoing construction of a massive chipmaking cluster in Yongin city, Gyeonggi, which calls for 600 trillion won ($452.7 billion) in investment. Kepco expects an annual loss of 300 billion won from that delay.

Hanam city, Gyeonggi, opposes building additional electrical grids, citing their location close to residential areas. The major based his decision on residents’ right to health but stopped short of presenting convincing grounds. That’s why the city is being criticized for a typical case of the Nimby sentiment. Kepco said that electromagnetic waves from its current transmission facility in the city were even lower than those of refrigerators at convenient stores.

Due to the rapid growth of the AI industry and the construction of the mega chip cluster, demand for electricity grows exponentially. But a critical lack of the grids sound alarms. Even if sufficient electricity is produced by nuclear reactors and renewable energy sources, it would be useless if the grid construction is delayed. Since local residents and civic groups vehemently opposed the construction of transmission towers in Miryang city, South Gyeongsang, in 2008, their voices have grown more than ever.

The central government must step in and persuade local residents by presenting rational ways for compensation. At the same time, lawmakers must pass a special bill on expanding the nation’s power grids as fast as possible. The bill mandates a special committee chaired by the prime minister to approve such infrastructure constructions without getting permissions from local governments, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Ministry of Environment.

Electrical grids not only determine the quality of electricity but also the competitiveness of our industry. We hope the National Assembly passes the bill this time to help boost the competitiveness of our country.