Sang-il Lee, Mayor of Yongin, "Relocation of Transmission Towers in Suwon City Violates Gwanggyo New Town Agreement"

Request for Mediation to Kim Dong-cheol, President of KEPCO

Lee Sang-il, Mayor of Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province, requested Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) to mediate the conflict with Suwon City over the relocation of transmission towers near Gwanggyo New Town.

On the 18th, Mayor Lee delivered a letter to Kim Dong-cheol, President of KEPCO, expressing Yongin City's position regarding the transmission tower relocation project at the boundary between Suwon City and Yongin City near Gwanggyo New Town, based on the agreement signed last month among Suwon City, Gyeonggi Housing and Urban Development Corporation (GH), and KEPCO. In addition to the letter, Mayor Lee explained the reasons and contents of the letter to President Kim via a phone call and sent an official document requesting KEPCO's mediation role.

Lee Sang-il, Mayor of Yongin, requested Korea Electric Power Corporation to mediate in resolving the conflict with Suwon City over the relocation of transmission towers near Gwanggyo New Town. Lee Sang-il, Mayor of Yongin. Photo by Yongin City

The issue of relocating the Gwanggyo transmission towers began in 2010 with complaints from residents of Haemoro Apartments in Suwon City and escalated into a sharp conflict between the two cities as residents of Seongbok-dong, Suji-gu, Yongin opposed the relocation.

Subsequently, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission mediated by considering the circumstances of both sides and advised, "Implement the construction after devising a solution to address the complaints of Yongin citizens." However, the conflict has intensified as Suwon City forcibly proceeded with a public notice in February to change the project implementers of the transmission tower relocation from 'GH and KEPCO' to 'Suwon City and KEPCO.'

In the letter, Mayor Lee claimed, "During the process of changing the project implementers' public notice, Suwon City did not consult with Yongin City at all," and added, "They did not even inform us of the fact that a tripartite agreement among Suwon City, GH, and KEPCO had been signed."

Mayor Lee stated, "Although the relocation site of the transmission towers falls under Suwon City's jurisdiction, the residents of Seongbok-dong, Yongin, who suffer direct damages such as obstruction of views, are the affected parties. Therefore, related agencies should sincerely communicate and negotiate to resolve the issue," and added, "KEPCO should play an active role to ensure that the relocation of the towers proceeds only after the two cities reach an agreement and the residents' conflicts are resolved."