Yeonsu-gu District (Mayor Lee Jae-ho) has stepped in directly to mediate a dispute among residents over the planned installation of a traction substation near Cheonghak Station on the Great Train Express (GTX) Line B. On the 21st, the district held a meeting in a conference room at the district office attended by residents, Incheon Metropolitan City and the construction consortium. The meeting brought both sides together in an attempt by the local government to find a solution, as residents worried about construction damage and community members who want the project to proceed without setbacks.
 [The Korean Today] Meeting to resolve resident dispute over GTX-B substation © Reporter Kim Mi-hee |
Two main issues were discussed at the meeting. The first was noise and vibration damage from construction of a GTX-B ventilation shaft, and the second was where to locate the traction substation. About 20 people attended, including Mayor Lee Jae-ho, representatives of Biryu Village residents, the Cheonghak Station Promotion Committee, Incheon city officials and the GTX-B construction consortium. The meeting was significant in that parties with differing interests exchanged views on concrete measures in the same room.
Discussion centered on the inconvenience and safety concerns of residents living near the construction site. Biryu Village residents expressed concern that they could suffer damage from noise and vibration as ventilation shaft construction proceeds, and called for measures to address the issue. Because large-scale underground railway construction projects take a long time and are often carried out close to residential areas, how resident damage is verified and compensated is key to easing conflict.
In response to the residents' demands, the construction consortium presented specific implementation measures. It said it would conduct building measurements regularly, at least once a week, to check safety conditions, and would compensate quickly through construction insurance procedures if damage is confirmed. The consortium also said it would review changing construction methods to reflect residents' requests and would actively support local environmental improvement. With regular measurements and an insurance-based compensation process now clearly laid out, whether these pledges are actually kept is expected to determine residents' trust going forward.
Separately from reducing damage to residents, Yeonsu-gu also made clear its position that the project itself must go ahead. The district stressed that the opening of GTX-B and the construction of Cheonghak Station are key long-awaited projects that will expand the transportation network in the old downtown area and drive balanced regional development. Accordingly, it asked Incheon City and the construction consortium to proceed on schedule with prerequisite procedures, such as permits for the substation ground survey, while presenting proactive measures to minimize damage to residents during construction. The district's policy is to strike a balance between protecting residents' rights and interests and moving the project forward.
Mayor Lee addressed both the need for the project and the protection of residents. "The GTX-B project and the new Cheonghak Station are essential for the future of Yeonsu-gu, but they cannot be pursued while ignoring the suffering of residents," Lee said. "Incheon City and the construction consortium must communicate continuously and present practical measures so that the anxieties of Biryu Village residents can be resolved."
Lee also explained the scheduling constraints and asked for residents' understanding. "Considering the overall schedule, including approval of the implementation plan in March 2027, the park occupancy permit for the preliminary survey of the substation site can no longer be postponed," Lee said. "I hope residents will fully understand this point." The mayor personally explained to residents that the preliminary site survey cannot be delayed any further if the implementation plan approval scheduled for March 2027 is to be met.
Lee also asked those who have been calling for the new Cheonghak Station to show restraint. "The local community, including the Cheonghak Station Promotion Committee, should refrain from actions that could escalate the conflict and pool their wisdom to protect residents' rights and interests and promote local development," Lee urged. The appeal appears to reflect a judgment that, since both the residents concerned about construction damage and those who want the new station are Yeonsu-gu residents, growing internal division could weigh on the long-awaited project.
The meeting does not immediately resolve the dispute. However, the construction consortium pledged regular measurements, insurance compensation, a review of construction method changes and support for environmental improvement, while the district stated its principle of proceeding with administrative procedures on schedule. How faithfully these pledges are carried out and how consistently the parties communicate with residents are expected to determine the pace of the GTX-B Cheonghak Station project and the resolution of the community conflict.
[ Reporter Kim Mi-hee: incheonsouth@thekoreantoday.com ]
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