Yeongdeungpo-gu has formally urged the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to adjust the route of the GTX-B metropolitan express rail line and relocate planned ventilation shafts, in a bid to minimize the impact on local residents.
District Mayor Cho Yu-jin met with Land Ministry Second Vice Minister Hong Ji-seon at the National Land Development Exhibition Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Friday, delivering a petition reflecting residents' concerns and the district's official position. Cho stressed the need for practical alternatives to protect residents' livelihoods and living environment, and called for an active review of the proposals.
The GTX-B construction project currently calls for installing a vertical shaft and ventilation shaft (No. 14) along the Yeouido-dong section, occupying all four lanes of traffic from the Richencia intersection to the entrance of Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital. The shaft was originally planned for installation inside the Saetgang stream in the direction of Dongjak under the initial master plan, but was relocated during the design phase to Yeouido-dong-ro — directly in front of a residential area — citing flooding concerns and Korea Land and Housing Corporation's plans to sell the site. Residents have since held protest rallies for several months over fears of a deteriorating living environment, traffic disruption and noise.
In response, the district officially requested a full review of the ventilation shaft (No. 14) location. It explained that hydraulic analysis under the detailed standards for river occupation permits would allow the shaft to be installed outside the Saetgang flood zone, and called for renewed consultations with the Han River Basin Environmental Office, which manages the Saetgang. The district also requested that construction be suspended until a second public briefing is held, that the briefing take place only after sufficient collection of residents' opinions, and that the ministry's responsible department head attend in person to address residents directly.
The district also made clear that the planned installation of ventilation shaft No. 13 in Jungmaru Park in Yeongdeungpo-dong requires a full location change. Residents' concerns have deepened over the prospect of losing more than half of the neighborhood's only park to the shaft installation. The district put forward two practical alternatives to preserve the park: relocating the shaft to a green buffer zone on the south side of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service building near Yeongdeungpo Rotary — a road site of about 930 square meters — or integrating it with the existing ventilation shaft at Yeouido Station inside Yeouido Park, roughly 1 kilometer away.
The district also urged a route change for the Susaek–Gwangmyeong high-speed rail line, which passes beneath schools and large apartment complexes, and called for the early completion of the Shinansan Line construction.
Vice Minister Hong said he would "proceed with the process of gathering residents' opinions and review measures to minimize any harm."
The district said it plans to work actively with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, project operators, contractors and other relevant agencies to ensure that residents' legitimate demands are meaningfully reflected in the national rail network project.
"We fully understand the necessity of this national project, but it must be carried out with sufficient consideration for residents' safety and living environment," District Mayor Cho said. "As the representative voice of Yeongdeungpo-gu's residents, I will continue to communicate with the relevant agencies until a reasonable alternative that residents can accept is reached."
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