The Story of Pungcheon-ri
Seven years of resistance to protect a pine forest, a mountain village, and a way of life
What kind of place is Pungcheon-ri?
Pungcheon-ri is a small mountain village in Hwacheon-myeon, Hongcheon County, Gangwon Province. It sits within a 1,800-hectare pine nut forest recognized by the Korea Forest Service as one of the country's Top 100 Forests, with century-old Korean pine trees spread across the slopes of Mt. Gari.
About 70% of residents rely on pine nut harvesting for their livelihoods. The forest is not simply scenery. It is the economic and cultural foundation of the village.
The area is also habitat for endangered wildlife including the goral, black woodpecker, and otter. For generations, people and nature have lived closely together here.
What is the pumped-storage plant?
The project is a 600MW pumped-storage hydroelectric plant proposed by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), consisting of two 300MW units. It would build upper and lower reservoirs, pump water uphill when electricity demand is low, and release it to generate electricity when demand rises.
The total project cost is about 1.5863 trillion KRW, covering roughly 153 hectares. Construction has been assigned to the Daewoo E&C consortium.
Hongcheon County applied to host the plant in 2019, after which KHNP selected Pungcheon-ri as a candidate site. If built as planned, 51 households would face submersion and relocation, while large areas of pine forest would be uprooted and mountain streams would be transformed.
Why Residents Oppose the Project
Ecological destruction
Around 110,000 pine trees are at risk. The 1,800-hectare pine nut forest, habitat for the goral, black woodpecker, and otter, would be permanently damaged.
Livelihood collapse
About 70% of residents rely on pine nut production. Logging already began in October 2024 when 2,256 trees were cut for road works.
Health impacts
Noise, dust, and vibration from an 84-month construction period would directly affect mostly elderly residents in their 60s to 80s.
Community dissolution
Fifty-one households face submersion and forced relocation. Once the village community is scattered, it cannot simply be rebuilt.
Photo: OhmyNews
How Residents Have Fought Back
2019
Residents formed an opposition committee and unanimously declared that they would reject the project.
Weekly
They continued weekly protests in front of the county office through rain, snow, heat, and winter cold. As of July 2026 the count had passed 705.
2024.7
After a confrontation at Hongcheon County Hall, seven residents aged 60 to 80 were indicted for refusing to vacate and faced fines totaling 18 million KRW.
Solidarity
More than 140 organizations joined the struggle, including national anti-pumped-storage networks, faith-based environmental groups, regional green groups, and youth climate activists.
Travel
Residents repeatedly traveled to Seoul to speak at the National Assembly and government offices despite their age and long travel times.
Principle
The struggle has always been conducted through lawful, democratic means. Residents fought with their voices, not violence.
What Residents Demand
- 1Full cancellation of the pumped-storage power plant plan
- 2Withdrawal of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy implementation approval notice issued on August 29, 2025
- 3Permanent protection of the pine forest and surrounding ecosystem
- 4Protection of residents' livelihoods, homes, and community rights
We want to protect our forest, our village, and our way of life.
Watch the story
Watch a short video introducing the residents' long struggle and the pine forest they are trying to protect.
Where is Pungcheon-ri?
Pungcheon-ri, Hwacheon-myeon, Hongcheon County, Gangwon Province — a mountain village on the slopes of Mt. Gari at 400 to 700 meters above sea level.
Getting to Pungcheon-ri
By car
- Seoul to Pungcheon-ri
Seoul-Yangyang Expressway -> Donghongcheon IC -> Route 44 -> Hwacheon-myeon direction
About 1 hour 30 minutes - Chuncheon to Pungcheon-ri
Route 5 -> Hongcheon -> Route 44 -> Hwacheon-myeon direction
About 50 minutes
Public transit
- Seoul to Hongcheon
Intercity bus from Dong Seoul Terminal
About 1 hour 30 minutes - Hongcheon to Hwacheon-myeon
Local rural bus from Hongcheon Bus Terminal
About 40 minutes - Hwacheon-myeon to Pungcheon-ri
Village bus or walking
Stand with Pungcheon-ri
This struggle belongs to all of us who care about forests, democracy, and rural communities.
Small actions from outside the village can still make a real difference.