South Korea is implementing measures to reduce the number of new transmission towers by up to 40% and prioritize underground cabling in densely populated areas. This initiative aims to mitigate local opposition that has historically delayed crucial power grid expansion projects. The government plans to reduce new tower construction from an initially projected 4,723 towers over 2,169 kilometers to approximately 2,509 towers over 1,200 kilometers by maximizing the use of existing routes and upgrading two-circuit lines to four-circuit lines. This is expected to improve public acceptance by minimizing the visual and physical impact of the grid.
The push for grid expansion is driven by a surge in electricity demand from advanced industries, particularly semiconductor plants and AI data centers, which require massive amounts of power. The government estimates that three major mega-projects alone will consume about 260 terawatt-hours (TWh) annually, exceeding 40% of last year's total domestic power generation. Additionally, ambitious renewable energy deployment targets, aiming for 100 gigawatts (GW) by 2030, further necessitate a robust transmission infrastructure.
While undergrounding transmission lines is significantly more expensive—costing 5 to 10 times more than overhead lines (ranging from $15 billion to $30 billion per kilometer for underground compared to $3 billion to $4 billion per kilometer for overhead)—it faces less public resistance. To further incentivize local acceptance, the government is strengthening compensation for affected residents. This includes revising subsidy disbursement to local governments to ensure funds primarily benefit affected areas, with subsidies amounting to approximately $2 billion per kilometer of transmission grid. A new "grid income" scheme will also be implemented, offering 8% to 10% investment returns to residents near facilities who invest in Korea Electric Power Corporation's (KEPCO) transmission projects.
These measures come as past transmission line projects have faced significant delays due to local opposition, such as the Gijang-Jangan line, which was delayed by a year after demands for underground construction. The government acknowledges a dilemma: while promoting a "local production, local consumption" power system, it must also build long-distance transmission lines to supply power from non-capital regions like Honam to high-demand areas in the Seoul metropolitan area. The new plans aim to balance these needs by minimizing conflict and accelerating necessary infrastructure development.
