Successive Terrorist Attack on TV Relay Tower, Who and Why?

`Who, why….`

Power cables of TV relay tower at four places have been cut off or burnt on purpose for 23 days successively, causing question on motive of crime and its purpose.

In case of Seoul Mt. Nam, which is representative TV relay tower, power supplying cable of TV transmitting station was cut off on 30th, intentionally and at the same place, same time (4~5P.M) on 17th, it was flamed estimated as incendiary. Last month, power cable of TV relay station at Suwon (26th), Sungnam (26th) and Hanam (28th) was also disconnected.

▽ Whose crime = The police think that it may be experts` collective behavior who had professional knowledge about electricity.

If power cable that reaches 22,900V is cut wrongly, it can burst up terribly. Criminals peeled cover of cable in order to prevent explosion and cut three electric wires, which were inside it one by one. It was very minute. Cutting the part, which comes out from under the ground is evidence that supports it is expert`s deed, too.

And in order to cut such a high voltage cable, oil pressure cutter that costs up to 2 million won is required; therefore, it can`t be an offense of one single criminal.

▽ Why = It is mystery why they cut power supplying cable intentionally.

Besides KBS, broadcastings that are using Mt. Nam tower as transmitting station, said, “if power supply is blocked, TV broadcasting might stop” and “but, as soon as power cable is disconnected, emergency generator comes into operation. That is why experts know that there won`t be any problem in broadcasting.” They analyzed that it is not for disturbing TV broadcasting.

However, if emergency generator doesn`t work, TV broadcasting can stop for at least two hours in region, therefore, it is difficult to conclude so. Seoul Mt. Nam is in charge of transmitting to Seoul, Gyeonggi and Chungcheong province and if problem rises, 48% of the population in the nation may not be able to watch TV.

In particular, more than half of 100 transmitting stations that KBS are running are unmanned stations, so, it is said that it is hard to take measures for disconnecting power cable properly.

▽ Police investigation = Some of the members of police estimate that it is done by those who have dissatisfaction regarding KEPCO among internal staff, however, KEPCO denies, saying, it as “impossible.”

KEPCO said, “ KEPCO should be restored to normal, but if it is terrorism against KEPCO, there are many ways to bring bigger damage besides disconnecting power cable. ”

However, the police said, “we are investigating possibility that it is done by a staff of KEPCO as sale of KEPCO is done on 30th of November.”

Sun-Woo Kim sublime@donga.com