The Seoul Metropolitan Government has decided not to appeal the administrative lawsuit over the construction of a resource recovery facility (incinerator) in Sangam-dong. Instead, the city has shifted its policy toward modernizing and efficiently operating the existing Mapo Resource Recovery Facility. Mapo District welcomed the decision, calling it "a victory for residents and the result of sustained efforts."
On the 3rd, Seoul announced it would prioritize modernizing and efficiently utilizing the existing facility after comprehensively reviewing factors including Mapo District's request to abandon the appeal regarding the new metropolitan resource recovery facility project. The plan is to apply the latest eco-friendly technologies to the Mapo Resource Recovery Facility, which began operations in June 2005 and is now 20 years old, to minimize pollutant emissions and improve the local environment. The city plans to develop specific operational measures through consultations with Mapo District and resident representatives.
Seoul also decided to terminate all legal proceedings, including lawsuits related to the new metropolitan resource recovery facility that had been planned for the Sangam-dong site. A city official explained, "The court accepted the plaintiffs' (Mapo residents) arguments regarding procedural issues in the composition of the site selection committee, which was the point of contention, and we lost in both the first and second trials. We decided not to appeal in respect of these results." As a result, all procedures for constructing the 1,000-ton metropolitan resource recovery facility in Sangam-dong have been halted.
Previously, Seoul announced Sangam-dong as a candidate site for a new incinerator in 2022, but Mapo District, which already has a resource recovery facility, immediately objected. The district demanded the "nullification of the Sangam-dong incinerator" citing procedural flaws and violations of regional equity, and submitted a petition with approximately 38,000 residents' signatures opposing the plan to Seoul. The district also continued administrative support, including filing to intervene as a supporting party in the lawsuit.
Mapo District has been urging Seoul to change its policy while proposing comprehensive measures including establishing a recycling separation system, promoting coffee grounds recycling, prohibiting food waste mixing in volume-based garbage bags, and strengthening self-disposal of commercial household waste. Mapo District Mayor Park Kang-soo said, "Seoul's decision to abandon the appeal is the result of residents' will and the district's policy proposals. We will do our best to spread waste reduction and recycling maximization policies throughout Seoul."