Seven Years of Resistance
A timeline of the Pungcheon-ri residents' struggle from 2019 to the present
“Not a single week has been skipped since 2019.”
Scroll sideways to browse the years.
KHNP Selects Seven Candidate Sites; Hongcheon Applies to Host
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power selected seven candidate regions for new pumped-storage plants. Hongcheon County applied with Pungcheon-ri as the target area, placing the village directly in the path of large-scale development.
OtherResidents File Complaints; County Governor Promises to Stop if Residents Oppose
After learning of the project, residents filed civil complaints. The Hongcheon County governor promised that the project would stop if villagers opposed it, a promise residents say was later broken.
MeetingsHongcheon County Pushes Through Resident Briefing Despite Opposition
Even amid strong local resistance, Hongcheon County went ahead with a public briefing on the pumped-storage project, intensifying distrust among residents.
MeetingsOvernight Sit-In and a Second Promise from the Governor
Residents began an overnight sit-in. The county governor again promised to respect residents' wishes, but that promise, too, was not kept.
Protest
Photo source: media reportResidents Form Opposition Committee and Begin Weekly Protests
Villagers formally created the Pungcheon-ri Pumped-Storage Opposition Committee and launched weekly demonstrations, marking the beginning of a struggle that would last more than seven years.
ProtestPreferred Developer Selected
A preferred operator for the Hongcheon pumped-storage project was selected, moving the project into a more concrete phase despite local opposition.
OtherPublic Preliminary Feasibility Review Passes
The project passed a public preliminary feasibility review. Residents criticized the process for failing to properly reflect environmental damage and community opposition.
LegalYouth Direct Action Visits and Joins in Solidarity
Youth climate activists visited Pungcheon-ri and publicly joined the struggle, helping expand its visibility across generations.
SolidarityEnvironmental Impact Consultation Completed
The environmental review process was completed, but residents and environmental groups argued that major issues such as forest destruction and wildlife habitat loss were not properly addressed.
OtherPlanned Project Zone Officially Designated
The planned project zone for the Hongcheon pumped-storage plant was officially designated and announced, escalating residents' opposition.
LegalGangwon Green Party Issues Official Statement of Opposition
The Gangwon Green Party released an official statement opposing the project and highlighting its environmental and social consequences.
Solidarity
Photo source: media reportPolice Confrontation on the Second Floor of Hongcheon County Hall
Residents faced police inside Hongcheon County Hall, and riot police were deployed. The scene became a symbol of how far the conflict had escalated.
Protest
Photo source: media reportLogging Begins: 2,256 Pine Trees Cut for Relocation Road
Logging began for the relocation road, affecting 10.96 hectares and 2,256 pine trees before full implementation approval was even issued.
Other
Photo source: media reportConcert and Village Festival Held in the Pine Forest
Residents and supporters gathered in the pine forest for a concert and village festival intended to heal collective wounds and reaffirm solidarity.
SolidarityDaewoo E&C Consortium Selected as Main Contractor
The Daewoo E&C consortium was chosen to build the project, worth 615.5 billion KRW, pushing the conflict into a new phase.
Other
Photo source: media reportMinistry Issues Implementation Approval Notice
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy officially approved the project, sharpening tensions between residents, authorities, and solidarity groups.
LegalAdvance Works Begin on Access and Relocation Roads
After official approval, advance construction began, directly affecting the village and surrounding landscape.
Other
Photo source: media reportSeven Residents in Their 60s to 80s Are Indicted
Seven elderly residents were indicted on charges of refusing to vacate, deepening the human cost of the conflict.
Legal
Photo source: media reportWeekly Protest Count Passes 680
The residents' weekly protest reached more than 680 gatherings, demonstrating extraordinary persistence over more than six years.
Protest본공사 착공 예정/주민투쟁으로 연기
홍천 양수발전소 본공사 착공이 예정되었습니다. 84개월간의 대규모 공사가 시작되면 마을과 주변 환경에 돌이킬 수 없는 변화가 시작됩니다. 현재 2026년 7월 까지 연기되었습니다.
Other김성환 기후에너지환경부 장관, 주민 대책위 면담서 '공사 강행' 입장
풍천리 주민 대책위가 김성환 기후에너지환경부 장관을 면담했으나, 장관은 사업을 막을 수 없다며 계속 추진하겠다는 입장을 밝혔습니다. 정부가 제시한 근거는 다음과 같습니다. 첫째, 사업 추진 과정에 이렇다 할 법적 하자는 없었다. 둘째, 홍천군·홍천군의회 차원의 의견수렴 과정(주민설명회, 사회단체·주민의 유치 찬성 서명부, 홍천군의회 동의 등)을 거쳤다. 셋째, 반대 의견수렴에 부족함은 있었으나 그 자체로 인허가 절차에 하자가 있었다고 보긴 힘들다. 넷째, 사업 중단 시 약 3,000억 원의 매몰 비용이 발생한다는 점도 백지화를 결정하기 어려운 요인이다. 다섯째, 산림 상태 변경 결정에 산림청이 사실상 동의했다. 7년 넘게 백지화를 요구해온 주민들에게는 사실상의 강행 통보였습니다.
MeetingsThe Struggle Continues with Support from More Than 140 Organizations
More than seven years later, the struggle continues. The weekly protest count has passed 705, and over 140 organizations now stand in solidarity with Pungcheon-ri, turning the issue into a national question of ecology, democracy, and residents' rights.
Solidarity
Photo source: media report김성환장관 풍천리 방문
기후부, 한수원에 일시 중지 요청 한 달 간 사업 절차 적정성 검증 김 장관 “주민 초청해 결과 설명” "김 장관은 “경과를 깊이 들여다봐야 할 것 같긴 한데, 처음에 단추가 잘못 끼워진 것 같다”며 “여기는 애초에 안했어야 할 지역같다”고 했다. 이어 “8년 전으로 되돌아가면 안했어야 할 일로 보여진다”며 절차적 정당성을 살피겠다고 했다. "
Other