Miryang Countermeasure Committee

Struggle Against the Transmission Tower in Miryang

Current Situation in Miryang (as of 22 July 2013)

June 2012 | Construction enforced amidst heat wave, village protesters prone to accidents 27-28 July | Bok-yi Um(73) and Yoon-ki Yang(64) fall unconscious on the site of no.95 construction site due to heatstroke and sent to Miryang Hospital by helicopter. 31 July | Young-sook Song(57) falls unconscious during blockage of helicopter take-off, sent to Miryang Hospital. 24 September 2012 | Construction suspended. 20-29 May 2013 | Construction resumed. Construction enforced for 10 consecutive days resulting in 30 casualties. Injured villagers sent to hospital. Villagers express strong will to continue the struggle. Painful struggle led by the elderly. But it is not a situation that can be solved by simply physically pushing ahead. Maintaining 8 strike points. Everyday is like a battleground.

Voice of the People

“Why does this country makes us grannies suffer so much?” “If you don’t build the transmission towers, I would be happy to continue farming and live in peace. This old lady is not asking for much, I just want to live as I have lived all these years until the day I die.” 544-1 Wiyang-ri, Bubuk-myeon

Deok-soon Ku

Voice of the People

“I married and came here at 17. For 80 years I have been living in Wiyang village, farming, and raising my children. I want to die because I feel as though I’m disrespecting my ancestors if I let the transmission towers be built here. Is it really a crime that we are trying to protect our own land? Your honor, please help us. It is up to you whether we live or die.” Wiyang-ri, Bubuk-myeon Hee-Kyeong Son

Miryang Transmission Towers Construction in detail

1. Damage infringed upon villages as a result of tower construction very dire. The right to life threatens 1480 families in 23 villages.

2. In contrary to the claims by KEPCO, it is unlikely that the 4 townships will reach a consensus.

3. Inadequate compensation. 4. Tremendous damage caused by electromagnetic waves. Towers to be

constructed transferring over 18 times the amount of electricity in comparison to the 154 transmission tower.

5. Human rights violations occurring during the enforcement of the construction.

6. Sexual assault of monk Beopsung / violent assault and sexual harassment of city councilor Jeong-sun Moon.

7. Nuclear Power P lant Development Promotion Act.

Detailed issues regarding Miryang Transmission Towers construction

8. Questions in the selection of route. 9. Excessive concentration of nuclear power in the Gori region,

transmission line issue and frequent breakdown at nuclear plant resulting in aggravation of risk burden on national transmission line system.

10. The problem of unbalanced development between Seoul, metropolitan areas, and regional areas.

11. The method of implementation of National Project by KEPCO, a public enterprise.

12.Possibilities of more deaths induced by the tower dispute.

1. Damage inflicted on the villagers: The Right to Life of 10,000 people across 22 villages

Currently, the ‘Shingori Nuclear Power P lant - Bukkyungnam Substation transmission route’ plan consists of building 161 765kV high-voltage transmission towers. In Miryang alone, 69 towers will be built. Miryang the problem is more eminent, as the towers will be placed along the villages instead of the mountains, causing tremendous damage to the villagers as it crosses farm lands, schools and train stations. Total area affected include 4 townships, 22 villages, and 10,000 people. Villagers feel more threatened as their land and property are no longer accepted as a guarantee for bank loans.

2. Claims by KEPCO: 4 townships will reach a consensus; a few violent villagers are leading the struggle - [NOT TRUE]

A petition against the False remarks made by Sang-kyu Yeo on the 28th of August, and that the residents disagree with the current compensation consultations’ was signed by 1,524 residents in 4 days, and delivered to the office of the congressmen Sang-kyu Yeo, Chang-il Kang and Hae-jin Cho.

3. Inadequate compensation

The current compensation measurements are outrageously inadequate. For example, Sang-woo Lee was offered 60 million won for his farmland worth 400 million (current market price). In the case of the land directly below the transmission wires, the compensation offered was only a 1/10 of the market price (8 million for 800 million). Thus, it would result in a drastic depletion of property values.

Depletion of property value

The banks are already denying the residents applying for loans.

“We reject this application for security loan as the land is situated along the path of the 765kV transmission line.”

4. Tremendous damage caused by electromagnetic waves

The 765kV transmission towers transmit 18 times more electricity to the previously common 154kV transmission towers. Therefore, the surrounding areas are subjected to severe exposure to electromagnetic waves. However, KEPCO claims that there is no agreement on the scientific evidence stating the damage caused by electromagnetic waves’ – thus arguing that it is ‘safe’.

The stance of KEPCO (Korean Electric Power Corporation) “We will make it below 833mG but… ”

* 833mG is the standard short-term exposure set by the WHO

• According to the WHO’s Fact sheet No.322 (June 18, 2007), short-term exposure to 833mG will irritate muscles and nervous systems, resulting in alterations in neurons in the central nervous system.

• Hallym University medical research team observed the destruction of spermatids in rats, exposed to 140mG over 16 weeks.

• 3-4mG: C lassified as a substance with possible carcinogenic potency (Confirmed by WHO, IARC)

• 0.7-1.1mG: The average rate measured in domestic environments.

How can we believe KEPCO’s argument that electromagnetic wave measured in the 765kV transmission towers are ‘less than hair dryers’, when they transmit over 18 times the amount of current 154kV towers?

5. Human rights violation occurring during enforcement of construction

Chi-woo Lee, an elderly man, was trying to protect his land. The security guards, about the age of his grandson, cursed and insulted him the whole day as he confronted them on the night of January 16, 2012. He was devastated by the men who shouted that they will be back tomorrow. He finally committed suicide. Throughout the whole winter, the elderly villagers were subjected to insult and molestation during the confrontations with the guards. The guards ‘treated the elderly like dogs’ as they tried to prevent them from cutting down the trees.

5. Human rights violation occurring during enforcement of construction

http://youtu.be/_gus81KxLEk

6-1. Sexual assault of monk Beopsung

On October 10, 2011, at the construction site of Sanoe-myeon, an employee of Daedong Electrics, and construction supervisor of KEPCO sexually assaulted Monk Beopsung. They repeatedly hit her private parts, while simultaneously verbally abusing her shouting ‘I will rip your xx’. The employees were fined a mere 600,000 and 300,000 won for their violence and verbal abuse, because ‘there was no intention of rape’. The monk had to receive psychiatric treatment. On June 7, as the construction was about to resume, she passed out and had to be hospitalized when the Daedong Electrics employee came back to the temple with a hound and a sickle in his hand.

6-2. Attacking of Miryang city councilor Jeong-sun Moon

On August 24, during the blockage of the helicopter take-off, around 10 construction workers attacked, and sexually humiliated one of the Miryang city councilors, pressing her down, twisting her arm for an hour.

7. Power Supply Development Promotion Act

With the effect of the Power Supply Development Promotion Act, the business operator, if appointed as a ‘power supply development plan’, is exempted from the numerous permitted articles stated in the forest law and the land law. Furthermore, they can expropriate the land without the approval of the landowners. It is an unjust law that infringes the Capitalist private property rights. This act, promoting unjust expropriation and neutralizing local governments, is a relic of the authoritarian developmental dictatorship era, which should be amended in the current 19th National Assembly.

8. Questions in the selection of route

① Connections with Lee Sang-jo, ex-mayor of Miryang. Aggravation of situation leading to suicide

There is consistent testimony from many residents that the current route of transmission line in Miryang which passes through three villages, including the village of the late Lee Chi-woo, was selected to avoid the 'San-cheon Farm' belonging to the nephew of the ex-mayor of Miryang. The farm is located in a mountainous area and the transmission line in that area would not have affected the livelihood of so many people.

Construction site no.102 where Chi-woo Lee committed suicide. Construction suspended

The current transmission line in Miryang starts from the hill in Yonghoei-dong (No. 101), passes through the rice field of Chi-woo Lee in Heegokri (No. 102), Cheongryeong temple (No.103), Baksan village (No. 104-106) and Gwaigok Village (No. 107-108). The route is bowl-shaped and passes through various farmland and villages. If the transmission line is built in the mountainous area in a straight line from Sanyeonri (No. 98), 3 towers do not need to be built and the route does not pass through any villages. However this route will pass through the 'Sancheon farm' belonging to the nephew of the ex-mayor of Miryang Lee Sang-jo. (Current CEO of the Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority, mayor of Miryang during final selection of transmission line route)

* Part of the Miryang 765kV Transmission line There is testimony that the initial transmission line was in the direction of the Sancheon farm. However in the final decision, the current route was selected. It is not possible to view related documents.

② Why does the transmission line not cross over the North Gyeong-buk boundary?

The transmission line does not cross over the North Gyeong-buk boundary, and comes down to Miryang passing through villages and inhabited areas instead of the mountainous area. In 2007 Choi Gyeong-hwan was the representative for Cheong-do North Gyeong-buk at the National Assembly. Even though Kim Young-gap, the representative of Miryang, was the head of the Trade, Industry and Energy Committee at the National Assembly, the final decision was made for the Miryang route. The conviction of the inhabitants of Miryang that this was a political decision is not baseless. It is a matter that should be investigated.

9. Excessive concentration of nuclear power in the Gori region, transmission line issue and frequent breakdown at

nuclear plant resulting in aggravation of risk burden on national transmission line system.

The termination of plans to built more reactors at the Shingori Nuclear P lant will be a new aspect of the transmission tower issue. At present, there are plans to increase the Gori reactor 1 to 4, and Shingori reactor 1 to 6. Not only are there concerns about the high density of nuclear power in one region, there are also concerns on unstable transmission system. The accident on August 23 at Uljin reactor 1 was caused by a transmission line breakdown that the turbine control system automatically picked up and resulted in the halting of the reactor. Increase density of nuclear power increases the possibilities of such accidents. A breakdown in any one of the 10 nuclear reactors in Shingori and Gori will result in failure in all the reactors. The nuclear cluster also does not make the management of the transmission system easy. The transmission system is connected nationwide and there are concerns of widespread breakdowns.

10. The problem of unbalanced development between Seoul, metropolitan areas, and

regional areas

Inhabitants in regional areas are suffering immense infringement of human rights and property rights. They are being kicked out of their residence for the electricity used by people in the city.

11. The method of implementation of National Project by KEPCO, a public

enterprise

Dispute caused by the one-sided implementation of project by the state and the forceful appropriation of land, a relic of the authoritative developmental dictatorship era.

KEPCO forcefully implemented the project with a strong stance that it cannot give in, resulting in the suicide. Inhabitants of other regions in transmission line disputes in Gunsan, Gumi, Bonghwa and Cheongdo are watching the development of events in Miryang.

The Miryang transmission tower issue can be the momentum in reforming the project implementation methods of KEPCO and changing transmission line disputes.

12. Possibilities of more deaths

If the present situation persists, there are deep concerns about further accidents. The Miryang inhabitants have strongly pledged their lives for the resolution of the matter and Miryang has become a tinderbox. (Recently activists had to calm down a resident who threatened suicide) There were no changes even with the suicide death of a 74 year old inhabitant, and frustration and despair are piling up among the inhabitants. There is a reason why the people of Miryang have fought with their lives for 8 years. It is not because they have high combative spirits. It is because there was too much damage, it is because they have suffered too much under KEPCO for the last seven years.

Conclusion: | Final Argument of the Villagers |

“A thorough investigation should be carried out, in order to verify the situation”

1. Suspend construction. Arrange consultation with the villagers. 2. No need for compensation. Re-examine alternatives requested by villagers. 3. Transmit new electricity produced in Shingori Nuclear Power P lant no.3

(completed Sep 2013), no.4 (end of 2014) through existing transmission lines – by contingency action (replacement of lines, increasing capacity)

4. Cancel plans for expansion of Shingori Nuclear Power P lant no.5 (2018), no.6 (2019)

5. Underground transmission for Miryang. Technical issues can be solved within the 6-7 years after contingency action of no.3 and no.4, even if expansion is pushed ahead.

6. If the above requests: number 3~5 are impossible, change the transmission route in Miryang (to boundary areas of Gyeong-nam and Gyeong-buk, where there is least human damage).