South Korean cable manufacturer Taihan has begun construction of a new submarine cable production facility in the Godae District of Dangjin, the company said this week.
The plant, which is expected to begin operations by 2027, will produce 640kV-class high-voltage direct current (HVDC) and 400kV-class high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) submarine cables. It will be built on a 215,000-square-metre site adjacent to Taihan’s existing facility and will include a 180-metre-tall Vertical Continuous Vulcanization (VCV) tower.
According to the company, the new facility will expand its production capacity fivefold and serve as a strategic hub in the global submarine cable market. Taihan described the project as the starting point of South Korea’s west coast “Energy Highway”—a government-led initiative to enhance national energy infrastructure.
“This is a meaningful moment as Taihan, Korea’s first cable manufacturer, secures advanced production capabilities in submarine HVDC cables,” said Jung-kwan Kim, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, in a message delivered at the groundbreaking ceremony. “The groundbreaking of Submarine Plant 2 will make an active contribution to realizing the government’s national agenda of building an ‘Energy Highway.’”
The development comes as demand for HVDC cable systems increases globally, driven by the expansion of offshore wind and cross-border electricity transmission.
“Offshore wind power and HVDC submarine cables are strategic industries directly linked to national industrial competitiveness and energy security,” said Taihan Vice Chairman Jong-min Song. “Through Submarine Plant 2, we will contribute to building the nation’s energy infrastructure, advancing the renewable energy industry, and establishing a foundation to lead the global market.”
Taihan, established in 1955, was Korea’s first cable manufacturer and has expanded its presence in both domestic and international energy infrastructure markets.
