LH to build first 'landscape-friendly transmission tower' in Third New Towns at Wangsuk District; construction to begin in 2027

[Financial News] Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) will install a landscape-friendly transmission tower designed to harmonize with its surroundings in Namyangju's Wangsuk District, the first such project among the Third New Towns. LH also plans to directly commission undergrounding work on transmission towers in the district, bringing forward the housing supply schedule.
On the 19th, LH said it plans to develop the tower design based on ideas from the contest and begin installation work in Wangsuk District, Namyangju, in 2027.
Transmission towers are necessary for supplying electricity, but have long been regarded as undesirable facilities because they detract from the urban landscape. LH will improve the design to reduce the visual burden of existing towers and help them blend in with their surroundings.
Last June, LH held a nationwide transmission tower design idea contest titled “Transmission Towers Get a Design Makeover.” External experts judged entries submitted by 39 teams over three months, selecting eight in total: one grand prize, two excellence awards and five merit awards.
The winners received a total of 14 million won in prize money, including 5 million won for the grand prize. The selected ideas will be used to develop landscape-friendly transmission tower designs.
A fast-track approach will also be introduced for the transmission tower undergrounding project in Wangsuk District. LH has launched a mutual growth and cooperation council with Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) for the power transmission sector and changed the project structure from paying a contribution toward undergrounding work to directly commissioning and carrying out the work.
Through this approach, LH plans to temporarily relocate the transmission towers and carry out the undergrounding work at the same time, shortening the project timeline and accelerating housing supply in Wangsuk District.
An LH official said, “As the first public institution to do so, we held a design contest and gathered public opinion to redesign transmission towers to better suit the surrounding landscape,” adding, “We will continue to expand resident-friendly transmission towers and do our utmost to create cities people want to live in.”

[email protected] Choi Ga-young Reporter