Yeongdeungpo-gu has stepped up communication with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to minimize inconvenience to residents during major national infrastructure projects and to align national policy with local development goals.
District Mayor Jo Yu-jin met with Land Minister Kim Yun-deok on Friday to convey residents' concerns to the government, raising issues including adjustments to the GTX-B line route, an amendment to the Building Act governing data center construction in residential areas, and the inclusion of the Gyeongbu Line's Yeongdeungpo section in a comprehensive railway underground development plan.
Jo asked the ministry to review the key local issues favorably and to cooperate in ensuring that projects proceed smoothly while protecting residents' safety and living environment.
At the meeting, Jo conveyed residents' anxiety over data center construction in densely populated residential neighborhoods and pressed the ministry to amend the Building Act.
Jo explained that the district had already submitted legislative amendment requests to the ministry three times — twice in 2025 and once this year — and that on Aug. 12 the Seoul District Mayors' Council passed a reform proposal, initiated by Yeongdeungpo-gu, to guarantee substantive review authority for autonomous districts over data center construction. Jo urged the ministry to establish a legal basis for such oversight without delay.
The district also presented resident-backed alternatives on broader transportation and railway issues.
The key requests were: a review of the GTX-B ventilation shaft location on Yeouido-dong-ro and a halt to construction before a second public briefing; relocation of the Jungmaru Park ventilation shaft to a site outside the park, or its consolidation with the Yeouido Park ventilation shaft; relocation of the ventilation shaft near Daebang Elementary School on the Susaek-Gwangmyeong high-speed rail line and a route change; and early opening of the Sinansanline, including Dorim Intersection Station.
Jo also asked the ministry to prioritize the Gyeongbu Line section running through Yeongdeungpo-gu as a pilot project in the comprehensive railway underground integrated development plan the ministry is set to announce this year.
In response, Minister Kim directed ministry officials to review the requests favorably.
After the meeting, Jo said, "Residents' living environment and safety must be the top priority when pursuing national infrastructure projects and local development," adding, "As the representative voice of Yeongdeungpo-gu residents, I will work closely with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and communicate actively until a reasonable solution is reached."
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