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An LS Cable employee inspects the construction site of the East Coast-Shin-Gapyeong line, where the 500kV HVDC cable boasting the world's largest power transmission capacity is being deployed. / LS Cable

LS Cable announced on June 15 that it has won a turnkey contract for Phase 2 of the East Coast-metropolitan area HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) project initiated by Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).

Following its participation in Phase 1 for the East Coast-Shin-Gapyeong section in 2024, LS Cable will now take part in Phase 2 for the East Coast-East Seoul section. The total supply scale amounts to approximately 234 billion won, with Phase 1 accounting for about 88 billion won and Phase 2 for roughly 146 billion won.

The East Coast-metropolitan area HVDC project is a critical national power grid construction initiative aimed at reliably supplying large-scale electricity generated in the East Coast region to the capital area. It is evaluated as one of the largest power grid projects in South Korea, designed to strengthen the stability of the nation's power supply.

LS Cable independently developed and commercially deployed the 500kV HVDC cable, which is designated as a national core technology, for the first time in South Korea. The company further proved its technical competitiveness by commercializing a 525kV/90°C HVDC cable featuring the world's largest power transmission capacity.

Breaking into the subsea HVDC cable market previously dominated by European manufacturers, LS Cable has successfully executed key domestic projects, including the Jeju 2nd and 3rd interconnection projects and Phases 1 and 2 of the Buk-Dangjin-Godeok project. Internationally, the company secured an approximately 3 trillion won contract—the largest ever for a single supplier—as part of a 7 trillion won ultra-high voltage power grid project driven by Germany’s TenneT.

HVDC technology is considered a cornerstone of the global energy transition due to its minimal transmission loss compared to alternating current (AC) and its efficiency in long-distance, large-capacity power transmission. With the recent expansion of investments in AI data centers and advanced industries highlighting the importance of large-scale power transportation, HVDC is surfacing as a core technology for national power infrastructures.

"Because HVDC projects directly affect the stability of the national power grid, proven commercial track records in real-world grids are just as critical as technical prowess," said Kim Hyung-won, head of the Energy and Construction Business Unit at LS Cable. "Leveraging our execution experience in major domestic and international HVDC projects, we will also actively participate in the West Coast Energy Highway initiative."

                                                                                                          Son Kang-hoon