Prosecutors are investigating allegations that Taihan Cable & Solution misappropriated submarine cable technology from LS Cable & System, and the probe is now drawing sharp attention from industry players ahead of South Korea’s next wave of undersea power transmission initiatives. The investigation’s outcome could directly shape bidding and evaluation for the government’s planned West Coast HVDC project, a massive infrastructure scheme. Industry officials note the case may become a factor in future project awards, even though the inquiry remains ongoing.
The government has dubbed the West Coast initiative the “West Coast Energy Highway.” Officials expect this HVDC project to generate trillions of won in demand for submarine cables and related infrastructure in the coming years. Consequently, both domestic and international companies are positioning for a share of the work. Taihan Cable claims the production facilities that investigators are examining handle AC submarine cables only, not HVDC systems. However, many industry experts disagree with that narrow assessment.
A sector insider familiar with submarine cable manufacturing explained the overlap. “HVDC and HVAC use different technologies, but key production facilities and operational know-how overlap in many areas,” the official said. As a result, scrutiny of AC cable production could still cast doubt on a company’s overall engineering credibility. Moreover, large national infrastructure projects assess execution stability and risk management alongside technical skills. Therefore, any legal cloud might affect how evaluators view a bidder’s reliability.
Another industry source stressed that the West Coast plan represents a pivotal battleground. “The West Coast HVDC project is expected to be a key battleground for leadership in Korea’s future submarine power grid market,” the official said. “As project awards begin, companies with proven manufacturing, installation and execution capabilities could gain an advantage in the competition.” This underscores why the current probe matters.
Meanwhile, the prosecution has not yet reached any conclusion on the technology theft allegations. Taihan Cable maintains that the investigation involves AC-only facilities that do not connect to future HVDC work. Nevertheless, the debate over shared infrastructure keeps the issue alive. For now, the HVDC project timeline remains on schedule, but potential bidders are monitoring developments closely. The probe’s findings could ultimately determine which firms evaluators see as the safest and most capable partners for the nation’s energy future.
