I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
KEPCO, Miryang residents clash
Residents of Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, rally behind a barricade set up near the mouth of Pyeongbat Village, Monday, to prevent Korea Electricity Power Corp. workers from resuming building transmission towers there. / Yonhap
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Construction of power distribution towers sets 2 parties apart
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Residents of the southeastern city of Miryang clashed on Monday with officials from Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) in their protest against the power company’s resumption of the construction of 52 transmission towers there after eight months of suspension.
Several residents sustained injuries and were sent to hospitals, officials from the company and the town said.
Residents tried to block the electricity authorities from continuing the construction project designed to send high-voltage current to be generated from the Singori Nuclear Power Plant based in Busan to the substation in Changnyeong-gun. The brand-new power plant is expected to be operational from December.
More than 40 residents of Pyeongbat Village in Miryang barricaded the road to the construction site to prevent KEPCO workers from entering it. Another group of residents in Dogok-ri staged a protest near the hilltop where construction of another transmission tower was planned.
Some protestors are threatening to commit suicide if KEPCO goes ahead with the project.
Opponents were concerned about the possible negative fallout of the high-voltage current from the transmission towers to their health and crops. They are also concerned the tower would negatively affect the value of their properties. Some harbor discontent, alleging their voices were not heard in the decision-making process.
Approximately 500 police officers were dispatched to the construction sites of the southeastern city after nearly 200 KEPCO workers resumed construction of transmission towers there.
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) lashed out at KEPCO as well as the Park Geun-hye government. Rep. Cho Kyoung-tae warned KEPCO of the consequences, urging it to stop constructing transmission towers until both sides reach an agreement. In a statement, the DP urged the Park government to take responsibility for the consequences.
Last week, KEPCO issued a statement calling on residents to cooperate in the project, warning of power shortages.
KEPCO plans to build 161 transmission towers in the 90.5 kilometer area across five southeastern cities, including Miryang, to send electricity generated from the nuclear power plant in Busan to the substation in Changnyeong.
This triggered protests from citizens of Milyang where 52 transmission towers are scheduled to be built. Construction there has been halted 11 times since KEPCO kicked off the project.
Last year, a 74-year-old resident of Milyang self-immolated to protest against the construction. The KEPCO and residents sat down several times to narrow their differences without any success.