GUNPO — A citywide civic coalition pushing for the relocation of the Gunpo Integrated Logistics Terminal urged the government and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) to commit to moving the facility out entirely by 2042.
In a statement released on Oct. 1, the coalition said, "For the past 30 years, Gunpo residents have endured all kinds of damage — traffic congestion, road damage, exhaust fumes, fine dust, noise, vibration and the risk of traffic accidents — because the city was designated a hub of the national logistics industry."
The group argued that the terminal, located in the middle of the city center, has severed urban space and hindered balanced development. It also described the facility as a critical issue threatening residents' right to health and their living environment.
The coalition demanded that the government and Korea Integrated Freight Terminal officially declare that terminal operations will be halted entirely and the facility fully relocated when the occupancy period expires in 2042. Rather than a simple pledge, the group said authorities should disclose an implementation roadmap covering a phased relocation schedule, plans to secure an alternative site and proposals for using the existing land.
The coalition also raised concerns about the process for extending the operating contract for first-phase facilities, which concludes in 2028. It stressed that no single company or institution should pursue the contract on an exclusive basis, and that legal and institutional mechanisms are needed to allow Gunpo City and the local community representing residents to take part in operating rights and decision-making.
The group further called for a clause in the extension contract specifying that a set share of the terminal's operating revenue be returned to the local community. The money should fund a "Gunpo City development fund" to be spent on improving air quality, reducing noise, repairing roads and supporting resident welfare and health programs, it said.
The coalition also demanded a permanent monitoring system for environmental and traffic problems. It called for the immediate formation of a joint civic-government-public environmental and traffic monitoring body involving Gunpo City, civic groups and resident representatives, with regular surveys of fine dust and noise levels to be made public.
"We will unite and respond through lawful means until our legitimate demands are met," the coalition said. "The government, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korea Integrated Freight Terminal must face up to the warning from Gunpo residents and work on effective solutions."
