New Pumped-Storage Plants Built After 20 Years... HanmiGlobal: "Construction Time Cut by 20% with Smart PM"

Successful Conclusion of the 'Smart Infrastructure Construction' Forum
Government Policy Expands Renewable Energy
Pumped-Storage Capacity to Increase by 40% by 2036
Active Integration of Advanced Technologies Such as AI and Robotics

HanmiGlobal, the leading construction project management (PM) company in South Korea, has proposed that smart technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital twins should be actively introduced to infrastructure sites in anticipation of the expansion of pumped-storage power plants.

On December 3, HanmiGlobal announced that it had recently held the "2025 Second Half HG Tech Forum" at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, under the theme of "Smart Infrastructure Construction," where it explored digital transformation strategies for domestic infrastructure construction, focusing on pumped-storage power plant projects.

The forum brought together major infrastructure construction companies, including Korea Expressway Corporation, DL Engineering & Construction, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, and HD Hyundai Site Solutions. They shared digital transformation strategies and case studies of smart construction technology applications on-site, centering on pumped-storage power plant projects.

Construction of Nine Pumped-Storage Plants Resumes

At the "2025 Second Half HG Tech Forum" held on the 2nd at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, with the theme of "Smart Infrastructure Construction," key attendees are taking a commemorative photo. From the left, Sanghyuk Park, Executive Director of HanmiGlobal; Dongmok Kim, Managing Director of HD Hyundai Site Solutions; Jonghan Han, Head of Korea at Trimble Korea; Kyuhwan Kim, Team Leader at Hyundai Engineering & Construction; Yongsik Kim, President of HanmiGlobal; Seongmin Cho, Research Director at Korea Expressway Corporation; Jinseok Kim, Head of Technology Research Institute at Sungpoong E&A; Wonpyo Hong, Manager at DL Engineering & Construction; Youngho Choi, CEO of Risk Zero; and Gukheon Lee, Chief Technology Officer of HanmiGlobal. HanmiGlobal

With the government's recent policy to expand renewable energy, the construction of pumped-storage power plants has resumed for the first time in 20 years, drawing attention to the related market. By 2034, a total of nine new pumped-storage power plants will be built in locations such as Yeongdong in North Chungcheong Province, Hongcheon in Gangwon Province, and Pocheon in Gyeonggi Province. Once these plants become fully operational in 2036, the pumped-storage capacity will increase by about 40%, from the current 4.7 GW to 6.5 GW, equivalent to the output of six to seven nuclear power plants. As a result, the industry is emphasizing the need to introduce smart construction technologies such as AI, robotics, and digital twins to enhance the safety of large-scale infrastructure projects, shorten construction periods, and reduce costs.

Seongmin Cho, Research Director at the Korea Expressway Corporation Road Traffic Research Institute, stated in his keynote speech, "The global construction industry accounts for 13% of the world's gross domestic product (GDP), and infrastructure investments totaling 106 trillion dollars will be needed by 2040." He added, "The key sectors are transportation and logistics (36 trillion dollars), and energy and power (23 trillion dollars)."

Director Cho continued, "Korea is currently pursuing four major areas with a smart construction technology development project worth 196.2 billion won: construction automation, DfMA prefab (factory-based manufacturing and assembly), integrated construction safety control, and data platforms/digital twins." He predicted, "An AI transformation (AX) era will arrive in the construction industry, where AI, which can deliver up to 30 times greater work efficiency compared to less-skilled engineers, will be actively adopted."

Wonpyo Hong, Manager at DL Engineering & Construction's Civil Engineering Business Division, introduced drone technology that operates even in environments without GPS signals. He explained, "Applying drone technology to pumped-storage power plant structures with limited accessibility, such as vertical pressure tunnels, surge tanks, and underground power stations, can reduce the time required for crack measurement and eliminate safety risks."

Kyuhwan Kim, Team Leader of the RX Research Team at Hyundai Engineering & Construction, presented case studies on the application of machine guidance (MG) and machine control (MC) technologies. He reported, "At the Busan Eco Delta City site, MG-based pipeline trenching improved work efficiency by 50% for temporary drainage channels and 67% for sewage pipes, while at the Qatar site, the ability to work at night increased productivity by 5 to 10%."

Dongmok Kim, Managing Director of HD Hyundai Site Solutions, said, "At CONEXPO 2023, the world's largest construction expo, we demonstrated an unmanned excavator without a driver's seat," adding, "The equipment can detect objects around it and automatically stop in dangerous situations, significantly improving on-site safety."

"Shortening Construction Periods and Reducing Costs with Smart PM"

Sangryeong Lee, Director of the Nuclear Power Group at HanmiGlobal, introduced advanced technologies being applied to the Yeongdong pumped-storage power plant (500 MW).

Director Lee stated, "The Yeongdong pumped-storage power plant is adopting the new RBM (Raise Boring Machine) construction method, which enables the excavation of vertical tunnels to improve construction safety and shorten construction periods. Advanced smart construction technologies such as BIM utilization and digital twins are now being actively introduced in domestic pumped-storage power plant construction." He added, "By utilizing digital technology at every stage from design to operation and employing smart project management (PM) for integrated management led by the client, it is possible to expect a 10 to 20% reduction in construction time and a 5 to 8% reduction in project costs."

In addition, Trimble Korea, a global construction software company, presented a case in which the use of remote equipment and robots in the construction of the Hiroshima sabo dam in Japan reduced manpower from one person to 0.2 persons and increased productivity by 50%. Sungpung E&A, a tunnel construction specialist, introduced vertical tunnel construction technologies based on mechanized RBM and DSBM, while Risk Zero, a smart safety management platform company, showcased a smart safety system that reduced accident rates by more than 25% using AI and big data-based accident prediction systems.

Since 2023, HanmiGlobal has been regularly holding the "HG Tech Forum" to share and address major issues facing the construction industry with industry stakeholders. The forum has covered a variety of topics, including data centers, smart buildings, senior housing, value-added remodeling, and alternative construction methods. HanmiGlobal plans to continue holding technology forums to introduce the latest trends and advanced technologies in the construction industry, including smart infrastructure.