In the Heart of the City Without Residents' Consent? ... Support and Opposition Split Over Bill to Restrict Data Center Permits

Han Jeongae proposes bill to restrict data centers
Over 1,000 comments for and against just a week after public notice
Residents step up opposition to data centers next to apartments
Experts: "NIMBY facilities... Their impact on residents must be carefully assessed"

A banner at an apartment complex near the data center construction site in Gaebong-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Jewon.

A fierce debate has erupted over a package of amendments proposed by the ruling party that would restrict building permits for data centers. As opposition to data centers spreads among residents in central Seoul, the amendments place greater emphasis on gathering input from nearby residents. The industry and residents are taking sharply opposing positions. Experts say institutional mechanisms are needed to mediate these conflicts.

According to political sources and residents on November 11, Han Jeong-ae, secretary-general of the Democratic Party of Korea, recently proposed amendments to the Building Act, the National Land Planning and Utilization Act, and the Special Act on the Promotion of the AI Data Center Industry. The amendments would establish grounds for restricting building permits for data centers deemed unsuitable for residential or educational environments. They would also require deliberation by building committees and public information sessions for residents for projects above a certain size.

As of November 11, about a week after the bills were announced for public comment, between 800 and 1,000 comments had been submitted on each bill. Many in the industry oppose the amendments, arguing that their passage could disrupt data center construction, but there is also considerable support from residents. Some local online communities have shared links to the bills’ public comment notices and encouraged people to submit comments in favor.

One resident who submitted a supportive comment said, "I understand the need to expand data centers, but the residential environment and quality of life of local residents should not be sacrificed in the process. We cannot overlook the potential effects on the surrounding area, including noise and vibration from cooling equipment, heat, and fire risks."

A representative from Han Jeong-ae’s office said, "Many data centers are being built in semi-industrial zones, and there are also many apartment complexes in those zones, which has led to opposition from residents. Current laws do not require public information sessions for residents about data centers, so there have been many conflict cases in places such as Geumcheon-gu and Yeongdeungpo-gu."

On Aug. 10, residents gathered of their own accord in front of Geumcheon-gu Office in Seoul's Geumcheon District, calling for the office to revoke its approval for a data center. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

Conflicts over data center construction are causing problems across central Seoul. In Gangseo-gu, residents are strongly opposed to a plan to develop the site of the SBS Open Hall in Deungchon-dong into an urban data center. One Deungchon-dong resident said, "This site is practically right next to apartment complexes such as Deungchon Jugong. A data center should not be built in the heart of the city without residents’ consent."

In Doksan-dong, Geumcheon-gu, residents have been staging protests against data center construction for months. Conflicts have also emerged over proposed data center construction in Mullae-dong and Dangsan-dong in Yeongdeungpo-gu, as well as Gaebong-dong in Guro-gu.

These problems keep recurring because there are insufficient institutional mechanisms to mediate conflicts. Under the Building Act, data centers are classified as telecommunications facilities, and there is no requirement to hold separate public information sessions or consultations with residents. A Democratic Party of Korea representative said, "Under current law, local governments have no choice but to issue permits if there are no violations of the Building Act. Government-level measures or standards are needed."

Protests against data center construction are also spreading overseas. In Ireland, considered one of Europe's major data center hubs, about 2,000 people took to the streets on November 8 (local time) to protest. Concerns about environmental damage and rising electricity bills have grown as data centers have sprung up rapidly. In the United States, Texas Governor Gina Hinojosa, who campaigned on pledges to establish safeguards for residents affected by data centers, moved to put the brakes on data center construction in response to public opinion shortly after winning the recent election.

There are concerns that conflicts over data center construction will intensify in South Korea as demand for AI grows.

Lee Chang-mu, a professor of urban planning and engineering at Hanyang University, said, "Data centers are a kind of NIMBY facility, so residents must be adequately consulted and considered during the construction process. Since public understanding of their electricity consumption and potential risks has not yet been firmly established, we need to carefully assess exactly how they could affect residents."

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