Hannam University has launched a strong protest against the resumption of a realignment project for the Gyeongbu High-Speed Railway's Daejeon North Connector Line, which would cut through part of the university's campus.
The university said Monday that Korea National Railway, after the project was suspended due to safety concerns including tunnel entrance gradient issues raised by Korail, quietly announced a unilateral resumption of construction in September last year — three years after the suspension — without any consultation with the university.
Korea National Railway plans to demolish the stands at Hannam University's main athletic stadium, a wrestling arena, tennis courts and a recycling sorting facility to build a 500-meter route through campus, consisting of approximately 190 meters of underground tunnel and 310 meters of open-cut sections to straighten the rail line.
However, the underground sections passing beneath the campus are only 4 to 12 meters deep, raising concerns about significant noise and vibration as high-speed trains pass through multiple times daily. The university says the route runs through soft ground, posing safety risks for some 20,000 students as well as Daedeok-gu residents who use the university's athletic facilities.
The construction site is particularly sensitive because it borders the Campus Innovation Park, the nation's first advanced industry complex within a university. Given the Gyeongbu High-Speed Railway's heavy traffic of hundreds of trains daily, there are concerns about safety and noise impacts on companies and research laboratories requiring precision work in advanced technology fields.
Hannam University has demanded a redesign to keep the route off university grounds, citing major safety risks and conflicts with the Campus Innovation Park project being overseen by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. However, the university says Korea National Railway has ignored these demands and continues to push ahead with unilateral construction.
Faculty members including academic affairs committee members, staff and students have launched a petition drive opposing the construction, filing a complaint with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission and submitting grievances to other government agencies including the presidential petition system.
The university held a public hearing at 1 p.m. Monday in the media room on the first floor of the Campus Innovation Park, inviting students, faculty, staff and local residents. The university says it is also prepared to stage protests and visit Korea National Railway offices to demonstrate.
"We are strongly demanding a redesign, as the project — whose efficiency is questionable — would violate students' right to learn through vibration and noise, and poses risks of a major safety accident such as stadium stand collapse due to weakened ground," a Hannam University official said. "They are also avoiding any review of alternative routes or specific compensation plans, and we strongly urge them to come up with countermeasures."
In response, Korea National Railway said, "The Daejeon North Connector project improves safety by moving the above-ground Gyeongbu High-Speed Line that passes through downtown Daejeon to an underground route beneath the Gyeongbu Line. While 1,264 square meters (383 pyeong) of land along Hannam University's outer wall and nearby areas — separated by safety fences and set back more than 100 meters — will unavoidably be incorporated into the project site, contrary to Hannam University's claims, this does not constitute an infringement on safety or the educational environment. Various impact studies were completed during the design phase."
The agency added, "Prior to the project approval in September last year, multiple meetings were held between Hannam University and the contractor, Hyundai Engineering & Construction. However, Hannam University has been demanding construction of a replacement building of 500 pyeong for facilities beneath the main stadium, which fall outside the scope of compensation."
"Once construction is completed, the current above-ground section will be moved underground, and noise-related disruptions to classes and research are actually expected to improve," Korea National Railway said. "During the construction period, we will establish measures through environmental impact assessments to ensure no damage is caused to Hannam University."