Chungnam residents protest power lines for Yongin semiconductor complex, fear 'power colony' status

A coalition of groups is protesting the planned construction of high-voltage power lines to supply electricity to the Yongin semiconductor complex, arguing that it unfairly burdens non-metropolitan areas. The 'National Action to Reconsider Yongin National Semiconductor Complex and Oppose High-Voltage Transmission Tower Construction' held a rally in front of the Chungnam Provincial Government Office, marking the start of the Chungnam section of their nationwide march from Haenam, South Jeolla Province, to Yongin.

Protesters, including the 'Chungnam Transmission Tower White Paper Committee,' argue that building more high-voltage transmission lines solely for the Yongin semiconductor complex will transform local regions into "power colonies" of the Seoul metropolitan area. They are demanding a change in government policy, calling it an unjust energy policy that sacrifices local communities for the benefit of the capital region.

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We cannot accept the unjust energy policy that turns local areas into power colonies of the metropolitan area by forcing sacrifices like the construction of transmission lines in non-metropolitan areas solely for the Yongin semiconductor complex.

The group pointed out that Chungnam province is already burdened with over 4,000 high-voltage transmission towers. They questioned whether piling more towers onto an already saturated region constitutes the government's promised balanced development. Furthermore, they highlighted that despite supplying electricity generated from coal-fired power plants to the metropolitan area, Chungnam has one of the lowest rates of undergrounding power lines in the country, at just over 1%. Residents are being asked to make further sacrifices, including health and property rights, without adequate compensation.

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Chungnam already has over 4,000 high-voltage transmission towers. Is piling high-voltage transmission towers on top of each other in one region what the government calls balanced development?

The coalition is calling for a fundamental review of large-scale transmission line construction plans. They advocate for adopting the principle of "energy localism", placing power generation and consumption in the same region, as a core tenet of national power grid policy. They also emphasized the need to establish a social dialogue body comprising residents, experts, and government officials to collaboratively shape national power grid policies.

The nationwide march began on July 30 in Haenam and has proceeded through North Jeolla Province and Daejeon. The group plans to hold regional actions in 11 cities and counties across Chungnam by August 14, including Yesan, Seocheon, Geumsan, Hongseong, Dangjin, Seosan, Boryeong, Cheonan, Gongju, Nonsan, and Buyeo.

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Despite numerous transmission lines being built to send electricity from coal-fired power plants to the metropolitan area, Chungnam's undergrounding rate is the lowest in the country at around 1%. The government is once again asking residents who have given up their health and property rights to send electricity to other regions to make even greater sacrifices.