Gunpo Mayor Han Dae-hee expressed opposition on September 15 to the expansion and additional investment in the Gunpo Logistics Terminal, stating that the terminal should be relocated outside of Gunpo in the long term.
During a meeting with over 300 local leaders at the Gunpo Cultural Arts Center, Mayor Han explained the current issues surrounding the logistics terminal and outlined future response strategies.
The Gunpo Logistics Terminal is a national logistics facility covering approximately 700,000 square meters (about 210 acres) near the Dong Gunpo Interchange on the Yeongdong Expressway, housing over 30 large warehouses.
For more than 30 years, the terminal has been a source of traffic congestion, road damage, emissions, and noise due to the constant entry and exit of large trucks, which have been identified as significant local issues.
According to a study conducted in 2021, Mayor Han estimates that the annual socio-economic costs associated with the operation of the logistics terminal exceed 85 billion won (approximately $71 million). In contrast, the annual local tax revenue generated from the terminal is only about 5 billion won (approximately $4.2 million).
This discrepancy arises because the terminal site is owned by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the facility was constructed with private capital, which is then transferred to the state after a certain period, resulting in tax exemptions and reductions on public property.
Mayor Han believes that while the benefits of the national logistics facility are enjoyed nationwide, the costs and damages related to traffic and the environment are borne by Gunpo, making this structural imbalance unacceptable.
He highlighted 2028 as a critical turning point for the logistics terminal, as the contract for Zone 1 will expire that year. If new investments are made at that time, it could lead to an extended operation of the facility, making future relocation virtually impossible.
“If new investments occur at the expiration of Zone 1, the relocation of the facility will be effectively impossible for at least several decades,” Mayor Han stated, adding, “I oppose any expansion or additional investment after the contract expires.” He emphasized the need for the terminal to eventually leave Gunpo.
Mayor Han has also proposed utilizing the space vacated by the logistics terminal for new urban development in Gunpo. This plan includes collaborating with the government, Gyeonggi Province, and Gunpo City to develop a logistics function relocation strategy, securing alternative logistics sites, and repurposing the terminal site for Gunpo's future growth.
Local leaders who attended the meeting acknowledged the seriousness of the logistics terminal issue, noting that they found the specific figures presented by Mayor Han enlightening. One attendee remarked, “Hearing concrete numbers about the current situation and the serious cost imbalance of the logistics terminal was beneficial. Now that I understand the painful reality of Gunpo, I will take a more active interest in local issues.”
Mayor Han urged the local leaders to ensure that citizens accurately recognize the seriousness of the logistics terminal issue and spread awareness throughout the community.
As the 2028 contract expiration approaches, Mayor Han plans to prevent additional investments and facility expansions while continuing discussions with the central government and relevant agencies regarding the terminal's relocation and logistics function reallocation.
Meanwhile, the issue of relocating the Gunpo Logistics Terminal is emerging as a key concern, as it will determine whether the local traffic and environmental burdens can be reduced and whether the terminal site can be utilized as a new growth area for Gunpo in the future.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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