Conditional Approval Again at Third Review
for East Seoul Substation Landscape Committee
Hanam City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Hyunjae) announced on August 26 that on the 22nd, it held the '7th 2025 Landscape Review (Public Design Review Committee)' at City Hall regarding the indoorization of the East Seoul Substation and other related buildings, and conditionally approved the project on the requirement that residents' opinions be reflected.
This review followed the initial landscape review application submitted on September 4 last year. The main review and a second review were conducted to improve the architectural landscape and incorporate citizens' opinions, and after a year, the project received final conditional approval during the third review.
The review mainly discussed the building's exterior and fa?ade design, as well as nighttime landscape planning. The decision was made on the condition that Korea Electric Power Corporation (hereinafter "KEPCO") incorporate the following plans, which were announced in a press release last December: first, strengthening resident acceptance; second, creating office space for more than 120 employees; and third, constructing a complex building that includes community convenience facilities.
Previously, KEPCO stated in a press release that the East Seoul Substation would be developed into a multipurpose complex building serving as both office space for six related organizations, including the East Seoul Power Branch and KEPCO KPS, and as an "energy hub" equipped with an HVDC Engineering Center and spaces for research, education, and exhibitions. KEPCO also announced plans to move major power facilities inside the building to resolve noise issues and to sufficiently reflect residents' opinions in the exterior design.
Meanwhile, Hanam City has made various efforts to resolve the issue, including holding three rounds of discussions through a public-private cooperation committee composed of local resident representatives, substation officials, the Gam-il General Association, citizens, the Emergency Response Committee, and heads of related organizations.
In July, the city directly visited and inspected three sites: the Sinyangjae Substation in Seoul, the Godeok Substation in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, and the Gam-il East Seoul Substation in Hanam.
Additionally, in response to a request from the Emergency Response Committee for a meeting with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the city arranged a meeting with the ministry.
Furthermore, the city expressed regret regarding KEPCO's unilateral claims recently raised through some media outlets.
KEPCO argued that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's guidelines for landscape review do not include "collecting residents' opinions," and claimed that the city was intentionally delaying the project by imposing groundless conditions.
A city official stated, "The landscape review is a process in which experts make judgments in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. Since the installation of large-scale undesirable facilities has a significant impact on residents' lives, and since no additional resident briefing sessions have been held after the official session was canceled in July last year, it is the municipality's natural duty to reflect residents' opinions."
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