Seoul City "to Humbly Accept Ruling on 42.1 Billion Won Compensation... Will Implement Administrative Procedures"

Supreme Court Rules in Favor of National Railway Authority in Gyeongui Line Forest Park Land Compensation Case
Seoul Required to Pay 42.1 Billion Won
"City to Discuss Measures for Operation and Management with Railway Authority"

The Seoul Metropolitan Government stated that it "humbly accepts" the Supreme Court ruling ordering it to pay 42.1 billion won in compensation to the National Railway Authority, and added that it will implement the related administrative procedures.

On August 12, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it would accept the Supreme Court’s verdict in the lawsuit over canceling the compensation charge imposed by the National Railway Authority for the use of land at Gyeongui Line Forest Park, and that it would proceed with administrative processes such as paying the compensation and related steps going forward.

Seoul Mapo-gu Gyeongui Line Forest Trail Park / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The city stated, "We respect the court’s decision and will carry out follow-up procedures, including payment of the compensation according to the ruling."

However, Seoul Metropolitan Government emphasized its position that “regardless of the lawsuit’s outcome, the public value and importance of Gyeongui Line Forest Park as a civic resting place remain unchanged.”

The Gyeongui Line Forest Park, created by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stretches 6.3 kilometers from Hyochang Park Station to Gajwa Station. It transformed a previously disconnected urban area, once divided by railroads, into a green space. Nicknamed "Yeontral Park," it has become one of Seoul's most popular landmarks, attracting millions of citizens and visitors every year.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it plans to discuss measures for the park’s future management and operation through consultations with the National Railway Authority.

Additionally, the city said it would continue to request improvements to relevant legislation from the central government, including relaxing the conditions for the free use of national property, in order to prevent excessive financial burdens on local governments when they use state-owned land for public interest projects such as parks.

Kim Yeonghwan, Director General of the Garden City Bureau of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "While we humbly accept the outcome of the lawsuit, it is disappointing to see the public value of Gyeongui Line Forest Park—a green space that has become a vital part of city life—somewhat diminished. We will respect the Supreme Court’s decision and diligently carry out the necessary procedures."

Trees along the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail in Mapo-gu, Seoul are dressed in knitted clothes.
Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Meanwhile, under a 2010 agreement between the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the National Railway Authority, the Gyeongui Line Forest Park was established, and in 2011, the National Railway Authority granted the city the right to use the land above ground free of charge for five years (from July 2011 to July 2016).

Subsequently, the Authority renewed the agreement in July 2016, setting the free-use period at one year. The Authority notified the city in May 2017 that the usage would be switched to a paid basis after the expiry of this period. The city requested a renewal of the free-use period, but the Authority denied the request.

Ultimately, the National Railway Authority imposed about 42.1 billion won in compensation on the city in four separate demands between November 2020 and May 2023, claiming Seoul Metropolitan Government had illegally occupied the land from July 2017 to December 2022. The city objected and filed a lawsuit in February 2021 seeking to cancel the compensation demand.

The court of first instance, after three years of trial, ruled in January 2024 that Seoul’s use of the Gyeongui Line Forest Park was not subject to compensation, siding with the Seoul Metropolitan Government. However, in February last year, the appellate court reversed that decision and ruled in favor of the National Railway Authority.

The appellate court determined, "The Seoul Metropolitan Government does not have the right to occupy or use the above-ground land of the Gyeongui Line based on the agreement, nor does it have any legal standing to justify its occupation or use of that land as long as park facilities exist."

Although Seoul Metropolitan Government appealed the decision, the Supreme Court delivered the same judgment on this day, explaining that there was insufficient evidence to conclude the Authority publicly expressed an intention to provide the land free of charge.

Since the Authority levied 42.1 billion won in compensation for the period from 2017 to 2022, the compensation Seoul will have to pay is expected to increase further when any additional period of occupancy is taken into account.

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