Hanam City: "Not Unconditionally Opposed to Dongseoul Substation Expansion... Persuading Citizens Comes First"

Hanam City Expresses Strong Regret Over KEPCO's Appeal on Dongseoul Substation Expansion
"National Projects Without Citizen Input
Cannot Achieve True Public Interest"

On April 24, Hanam City officially expressed strong regret regarding the "Appeal for Approval of the Dongseoul Substation Power Grid Construction" announced by Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).

Hanam City Hall view. Provided by Hanam City

Hanam City criticized KEPCO's unilateral statement, saying, "Concerns among citizens over the expansion of large-scale power facilities within densely populated residential areas have yet to be resolved."

In its statement, Hanam City emphasized, "While we understand that the indoor expansion project of the Dongseoul Substation is a key national initiative for stabilizing power supply in the Seoul metropolitan area, it is difficult to secure public interest for national policies that are promoted without resident acceptance and public consensus."

In particular, Hanam City pointed out, "In addition to KEPCO's claim of a 1.8-fold expansion, in reality, an increase of approximately 3.5 times the existing capacity is expected, and this has led to ongoing anxiety and safety concerns among citizens."

Hanam City explained that it has continuously requested KEPCO to gather residents' opinions and ensure acceptance, and that KEPCO had agreed to this in a press release in December 2024 and in an official letter in April 2025.

However, the city stated, "From July 2024 to the present, residents of the Gam-il New Town have continued to express their concerns, and there has been a lack of effective response to these worries."

Regarding administrative procedures, Hanam City said, "In accordance with the decision of the Gyeonggi-do Administrative Appeals Committee in December 2024, we have faithfully carried out the approval process in compliance with laws and regulations," and rebutted, "Nevertheless, it is unfair for KEPCO to unilaterally criticize Hanam City as if it had abused its discretionary power."

Hanam City stated, "We are not unconditionally opposed to the expansion of the Dongseoul Substation, but persuasion of citizens and alleviation of their concerns must come first," urging KEPCO to take responsible action and engage in substantive communication.

Meanwhile, KEPCO stated in the appeal released on the same day that "opposition from a specific region should not hinder the expansion of the national power grid."