LS Cable & System has secured Phase 2 of South Korea's East Coast-Capital Region high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission project, strengthening its position in the country's critical power infrastructure sector. The project comes as demand for large-scale electricity transmission rises amid the rapid expansion of AI data centers and advanced manufacturing industries.
The company announced on June 15 that it had won the turnkey contract for the second phase of the East Coast-Capital Region HVDC project, led by Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO).
Following its participation in Phase 1, which covers the East Coast-Shin Gapyeong section and was awarded in 2024, LS Cable & System will now also undertake Phase 2, connecting the East Coast and Dong Seoul. The combined contract value amounts to approximately KRW 234 billion, including about KRW 88 billion for Phase 1 and KRW 146 billion for Phase 2.
The East Coast-Capital Region HVDC project is a key national initiative aimed at transmitting large volumes of electricity generated along Korea's eastern coast to the Seoul metropolitan area. It is regarded as one of the country's largest power grid projects designed to enhance energy supply stability.
HVDC technology is considered a core component of next-generation power infrastructure due to its lower transmission losses and superior efficiency in long-distance, high-capacity power transmission compared with conventional alternating current (AC) systems.
As investments in AI data centers, semiconductor manufacturing, and renewable energy continue to expand worldwide, demand for large-scale electricity transmission infrastructure is also increasing, further elevating the strategic importance of HVDC technology.
LS Cable & System was the first company in Korea to commercialize 500kV-class HVDC cables, a technology designated as a national core technology. The company also successfully commercialized 525kV, 90-degree Celsius HVDC cables with the world's highest transmission capacity.
The company has accumulated experience through major domestic projects, including the Jeju No. 2 and No. 3 interconnection projects and the Bukdangjin-Godeok HVDC projects. Overseas, it secured contracts worth approximately KRW 3 trillion for projects led by Dutch-German transmission system operator TenneT, demonstrating its competitiveness in the global HVDC market.
LS Cable & System plans to actively participate in future national grid initiatives, including Korea's proposed West Coast Energy Highway project.
"HVDC projects are directly linked to the stability of national power grids, making proven commercialization experience just as important as technological capability," said Kim Hyung-won, head of the Energy and EPC Business Division at LS Cable & System. "Leveraging our experience in major domestic and overseas HVDC projects, we will actively pursue opportunities in the West Coast Energy Highway initiative."
