Gwacheon City Council rejects data center separation ordinance

The Gwacheon City Council has rejected a proposed amendment to the city planning ordinance that would have mandated a separation distance of 200 to 300 meters between data centers and residential areas. The proposal, which aimed to prevent data centers from being built in close proximity to housing, was defeated twice: first by the ordinance review special committee and subsequently during the plenary session.

The rejection follows intense debate and over 1,700 public comments submitted during the legislative notice period. Council Speaker Hwang Sun-hee stated that the decision reflects the need for more thorough review regarding citizen safety, environmental rights, and legal validity.

The Gwacheon Juam Original Residents Landowner Association welcomed the council's decision. The association expressed concerns that the ordinance could have infringed upon the property and livelihood rights of approximately 170 original residents in the Juam district, particularly due to potential retroactive application to ongoing development permits. The association has called for public hearings to resolve conflicts and reach a consensus regarding data center developments in the region.