'8 Months Since Completion' Incheon Songdo Truck Parking Lot... Incheon Port Authority-Economic Free Zone Authority Anticipate Legal Dispute

Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority Rejects Temporary Building Construction Report Considering Residents' Opposition

It has been eight months since a truck parking lot was established in Songdo International City, Incheon, but the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority is continuously rejecting the temporary building construction reports required for the use of the parking lot, citing resident opposition complaints, signaling a legal dispute ahead.

Incheon Port Authority (IPA) announced on the 29th that it completed a truck parking lot with 402 spaces on a 50,000㎡ site in the 9th district of Songdo International City, part of the Incheon Free Economic Zone, at a cost of 5 billion KRW last December. However, the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority has not permitted the installation of the facilities.

The site was selected as the optimal location for a truck parking lot through a study conducted by Incheon City in 2021. However, the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, a subordinate organization of the city, has rejected the temporary building construction reports submitted by IPA three times from January this year until recently, which were necessary for installing unmanned parking control facilities and offices required for operating the parking lot.

IPA filed an objection according to the law on handling complaints, but the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority did not accept it, considering the collective complaints from residents opposing the truck parking lot. Residents of Songdo have opposed the parking lot, arguing that its location about 700 to 800 meters away from large apartment complexes could cause environmental damage such as exhaust fumes and noise, traffic congestion, and safety accidents. Local authorities including Yeonsu District and lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties have voiced their support for the residents.

Incheon Songdo 9 District Aam Logistics Complex 2 Truck Parking Lot
[Photo by Incheon Port Authority]

IPA maintains that the truck parking spaces around Incheon Port are saturated and that the opening of the parking lot cannot be delayed any longer. The truck drivers' union has also expressed difficulties in finding parking spaces. They particularly criticized the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority for continuing to reject the construction reports even after the National Rights Commission’s mediation results regarding the collective complaints, calling it an abuse of administrative authority.

The National Rights Commission began mediation procedures in April 2021 after Songdo residents submitted a petition urging the withdrawal of the truck parking lot plan. However, as disagreements among stakeholders including Incheon City, IPA, Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ Cargo Solidarity could not be resolved, the commission decided earlier this month that mediation had failed.

The commission notified the complainants of the review result stating, "Considering the shortage of parking lots, it is difficult to request related agencies to relocate or abolish the truck parking lot." The commission explained, "Although Songdo 8th district, where the complainants reside, is a restricted area for truck traffic, trucks illegally enter and park or stop near apartment complexes and nearby schools. It is reasonable to request related agencies to prepare practical and effective measures such as truck traffic restrictions."

An IPA official said, "Since the National Rights Commission’s decision has been made, we sent an official letter to the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority last month asking for cooperation to allow the use of the truck parking lot, but it was not accepted. We can no longer leave the parking lot, which was completed eight months ago, unused and plan to file an administrative lawsuit against the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.