Yeongdeungpo District Urges Relocation of GTX-B Ventilation Shaft and Route Adjustment

Mayor Cho Yujin Submits Proposal

During Meeting With Ministry of Land Second Vice Minister

The Yeongdeungpo District Office of Seoul (Mayor Cho Yujin) announced on August 10 that it had requested the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to relocate the ventilation shaft and adjust the route of the Metropolitan Area Express Railway Line B (GTX-B) in order to reduce adverse effects on local residents caused by the construction.

On the 21st of last month, Cho Yujin, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District (second from the left in the front row), and officials visited the GTX-B construction site. Provided by Yeongdeungpo District.

On August 7, Cho Yujin, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, met Hong Jiseon, the Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport at the National Land Development Exhibition Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul, and delivered a document outlining residents’ opinions and the district office’s position. Mayor Cho emphasized the need to find alternative solutions that take into account residents’ safety and living environment and called for a thorough review.

Currently, the GTX-B construction project is occupying all four lanes in both directions from the intersection in front of Ricensia to near the entrance of Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital along the Yeouidong-ro section, to install a vertical shaft and ventilation shaft (#14).

This ventilation shaft was originally planned, according to the basic plan, to be installed in Saetgang toward Dongjak. However, due to concerns over flooding in Saetgang and the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH)’s plan to sell the land during the design process, the location was changed to Yeouidong-ro, in front of a residential area. Since then, residents have held protest rallies for several months, citing concerns about noise, traffic disruptions, and deterioration of the living environment.

The district office has requested a full reassessment of the location for ventilation shaft (#14). It has also called for renewed consultation with the Han River Basin Environmental Office, which manages Saetgang, arguing that a hydraulic analysis based on the ‘Detailed Standards for River Occupancy Permits’ would prove a ventilation shaft could be installed outside the main Saetgang area. Additionally, the district office has requested a temporary halt to construction and for a public explanation session to be held only after collecting residents’ opinions, with the responsible department head from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport attending the session in person.

The district also requested a location adjustment for ventilation shaft (#13), which is planned for Jungmaru Park in Yeongdeungpo-dong, noting that installation at this location could result in the loss of more than half of the only park in the area. As alternatives, the district proposed relocating the shaft to the green space (a road site of approximately 930 square meters) south of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service near Yeongdeungpo Rotary, or integrating it with an existing ventilation shaft at Yeouido Station within Yeouido Park, which is about 1 kilometer away.

In addition, the district called for a change to the ‘Susaek-Gwangmyeong high-speed rail’ route, which passes beneath schools and large apartment complexes, and urged the early opening of the ‘Shinansan Line’ rail project. Yeongdeungpo District Office explained, “Vice Minister Hong Jiseon said that the ministry would proceed with the process for collecting residents’ opinions and review ways to minimize the damage.”

Mayor Cho Yujin stated, “Of course, I understand the necessity of a national project, but it must be implemented only after fully considering residents’ safety and living conditions. As a primary representative of residents’ complaints in Yeongdeungpo District, I will continue to communicate with related organizations until a reasonable alternative that residents can accept is prepared.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.