"Why Is the Ventilation Shaft for GTX-B Line Installed at Yongdu Park in Dongdaemun-gu?"

What Crime Did Dongdaemun-gu Residents Commit? Ventilation Shaft Originally Planned for Seongdong-gu Changed Without Consultation
Opposition Grows as Ventilation Shaft for Line C Already Planned at Yongdu Park, the Scheduled Installation Site

Residents of Dongdaemun-gu Exercising at Yongdu Park

In Yongdu Neighborhood Park (Yongdu-dong 34-1 area) in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Lee Pil-hyung), plans to install a ventilation shaft for the GTX-B line have sparked strong opposition from residents.

Yongdu Neighborhood Park, located opposite the Dongdaemun-gu Office, is a living space frequently visited by residents for rest and exercise. According to district officials, rumors about the installation of the undesirable ventilation shaft have been spreading, leading to growing resistance from the community.

During the '2024 Resident Communication Meeting' held on the 18th in Yongsin-dong, residents expressed their frustration to Mayor Lee Pil-hyung, saying, "What crime have we committed that we have to endure not only the Environmental Resource Center but also a ventilation shaft?"

The district established the Environmental Resource Center, a comprehensive waste treatment facility, in 2009 and created the surrounding area as Yongdu Neighborhood Park for residents' convenience.

The ventilation shaft, originally planned to be installed in Seongdong-gu, was relocated to the park frequently used by Dongdaemun-gu residents due to adjustments in the location of adjacent ventilation shafts based on site conditions.

If the ventilation shaft is installed as planned, residents expect severe inconvenience due to noise and dust from prolonged construction and traffic congestion in the area. Especially since a ventilation shaft for the GTX-C line is already scheduled to be installed in this park, the additional plan for the GTX-B line ventilation shaft has come as a greater shock to nearby residents.

Mayor Lee Pil-hyung of Dongdaemun-gu stated, "The biggest issue with this ventilation shaft installation is that the location change was unilaterally notified without gathering opinions from our district and local residents." He added, "We deeply regret the Korea Rail Network Authority's disregard for Dongdaemun-gu residents and will strongly demand the prompt withdrawal of the ventilation shaft installation plan and its relocation to another site."