Korea Electric Power Corp. agreed to halt work on high-voltage transmission towers in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, on Wednesday while a group of experts reviews alternative plans.

The company and residents accepted the parliamentary Trade, Industry and Energy Committee’s mediation measures.

The nine-member group ― consisting of experts picked by the residents, KEPCO and the National Assembly ― will review various alternatives for 40 days.

The panel will give priority to plans for circumventing the Miryang area, but will also be allowed to analyze the feasibility of building underground power lines and other possible alternatives.

The group will be required to submit a report on their findings, including issues on which consensuses have not been reached, to the parliamentary Trade, Industry and Energy Committee.

The committee will then draw up solutions to the problem based on the report, which KEPCO and the Miryang residents will be required to follow.

The construction on the 52 transmission towers, which are part of a 161-tower, 90.5-kilometer line connecting the Shin-Kori nuclear power plant in Ulsan to a substation in Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, resumed on May 20 after being stalled eight months due to opposition from residents of the area.

Of the 161 towers, 109 in other areas have been completed.

Miryang residents have opposed the towers from the outset, citing a 2003 World Health Organization report warning of the possible carcinogenic effects of such facilities.

By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)