Assemblyman Heo Jong-sik: "Dongincheon Private Station to be Demolished in 2025... Development Plans Must Accelerate"

Korea Rail Network Authority Initiates Legal Proceedings Including Eviction Lawsuit Against Occupants
Private Station Demolition Planned After Approval of Complex Building Development Plan

With the demolition of the privately funded Dongincheon Station on the Gyeongin Railway confirmed, the Korea Rail Network Authority is initiating legal procedures such as eviction lawsuits against the occupants. However, since the plan is to demolish the private station once the complex development permits are finalized, there are calls to accelerate the development planning.

On the 30th, Heo Jong-sik, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea representing Incheon Dong-gu Michuhol-gu Gap, announced, "Following the resolution by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s Railway Industry Committee in December last year (demolition of the building followed by complex development), the Korea Rail Network Authority has decided to file injunctions to prohibit transfer of possession and eviction lawsuits against the possessors, including lien holders of the Dongincheon private station."

The Korea Rail Network Authority has selected a dedicated law firm to respond to various lawsuits that may arise from the eviction of occupants to the demolition stage and has begun legal procedures ahead of administrative enforcement.

Meanwhile, the timing of the demolition of the private station has emerged as a key issue. The Korea Rail Network Authority plans to include the demolition work in the public offering for the complex development project and to carry out the demolition at the time when permits are completed.

Accordingly, they plan to solicit new project operators in October this year and proceed with demolition followed by complex development in January 2025. This is the first time the Korea Rail Network Authority has specified the timing of the private station demolition.

Dongincheon Private Station Development Possible Area [Provided by Assemblyman Heo Jong-sik's Office]

The Korea Rail Network Authority, which suffered a loss of 15.1 billion KRW in occupancy fees?about 20% of the total claims (72.4 billion KRW) related to the Dongincheon private station?is reportedly without grounds to independently cover the demolition costs.

Therefore, if eviction lawsuits and administrative enforcement are delayed, the demolition timing of the private station is expected to be postponed beyond the plan. In a situation where the facility is left unattended for a long time, concerns about safety accidents such as fires due to building aging, urban aesthetics issues, and inconvenience to railway users are inevitable.

Rep. Heo said, "Despite the government's demolition decision, it is expected to take considerable time until the actual demolition. We must first establish management measures to alleviate safety concerns regarding the private station building and its surroundings, and also accelerate the formulation of plans that can ensure the success of the private station development, such as granting complex transfer functions to Dongincheon Station after demolition."

With the complex development site designated as a general commercial area, the Korea Rail Network Authority is reviewing that if the occupancy area is expanded excluding some railway land from the existing occupancy permit area (12,277㎡), the developable area could reach up to 14,526㎡, according to Rep. Heo’s office.

Earlier in January, Rep. Heo argued, "The complex building after demolition should be utilized mainly for administrative functions, including the new Jemuipo District office building proposed in the administrative system reform plan, as well as public institutions and public enterprises under Incheon City, Jung-gu, and Dong-gu."

Democratic Party of Korea Representative Heo Jong-sik