Geumcheon District Addresses Doksan-dong Data Center Controversy: "Internal Audit and Joint Public-Private Inspection Team Formed"

Internal Audit to Be Conducted on the Entire Construction Permit Process

On April 1, 2026, Geumcheon District in Seoul (District Mayor Yoo Seonghun) announced a comprehensive response plan containing three key countermeasures in response to residents’ requests to revoke the construction permit and suspend construction of the data center in Doksan-dong.

Exterior view of Geumcheon District Office. Provided by Geumcheon District Office.

The district office reiterated that the construction permit in question was processed in accordance with the relevant laws and procedures. However, acknowledging residents’ concerns about changes to the residential environment, such as electromagnetic waves and noise, the district decided to conduct an internal audit. Through this audit body, the district will investigate whether there were any legal violations during the permitting process. If any serious negligence or illegal acts are uncovered, immediate follow-up measures will be taken. If it is determined that a more thorough investigation is necessary, the district is also considering directly requesting an audit from the Board of Audit and Inspection.

In addition, a joint inspection team comprising district officials and experts selected by the residents will be formed to regularly monitor the on-site safety management status. The team will focus on checking for unauthorized construction that differs from the approved plans or violations of safety regulations, and aims to minimize inconveniences to daily life caused by noise, vibration, and dust during construction. The district stated that if any illegal acts or safety hazards are found, not only correction orders but also administrative measures such as the suspension of construction may be imposed.

Upon residents’ request, the district will also commission professional organizations to re-examine the objectivity of existing data regarding environmental impacts such as electromagnetic waves, noise, and the heat island effect. The results of this review will be transparently released to residents, and based on these findings, the district will strongly recommend that the developer implement environmental mitigation measures and design improvements.

A district official said, "Through objective and transparent verification, we will resolve residents’ doubts and concentrate all efforts to thoroughly supervise and manage the entire construction process to ensure that no harm comes to residents."

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