Abstract: Corona discharge suppression for high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission lines at line terminals such as converter stations is a subject that requires attention. In this paper, a method based on a conductor covered with dielectric film is proposed and implemented through a bench-scale setup. Compared with the bare conductor, the corona discharge suppression effect of the dielectric-film-covered conductor under positive polarity is studied from the composite field strength and ion current density using a line-plate experimental device. The influences of film thickness and film material on the corona discharge suppression effect are investigated. The charge accumulation and dissipation characteristics of different film materials are also studied. The results show that the conductor covered with dielectric film has excellent ability to inhibit corona discharge. The ground-level composite field strength of the conductor covered with dielectric film is lower than its nominal field strength, and its ion current density is at the nA m⁻² level. The corona threshold voltage can be promoted by increasing the film thickness, but the ability to inhibit corona discharge becomes weak. The larger the surface electric field strength, the more charge accumulated, but the faster the charge dissipation rate. Compared with polyvinyl chloride film, cross-linked polyethylene film has stronger charge accumulation ability and slower charge dissipation rate, which can better restrain the corona discharge of HVDC transmission lines.