Seoul: South Korea's cultural heritage agency has expressed strong disapproval of a recent decision by Seoul municipal authorities to permit the construction of high-rise buildings near Jongmyo Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This decision has sparked renewed tensions over the preservation of the historic area.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) announced that it had received a consultation request from Seoul's Jongno Ward office. This followed the city government's controversial decision to increase the building height limit in the area to 145 meters. The consultation request is part of the procedural requirements to incorporate changes to the project.
In a statement, the KHS criticized the decision, stating it "unilaterally scraps an existing compromise" that had been achieved through years of negotiations between the heritage agency, the Seoul city government, and Jongno Ward. The agency insisted that the project should be thoroughly reconsidered to protect the integrity of the shrine.
The conflict centers around "Sewoon District 4," a redevelopment initiative by the city located directly opposite the shrine, which holds the memorial tablets of Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) royalty. While the Seoul city government claims the redevelopment will rejuvenate the area by adding new green spaces, heritage officials argue that the project could compromise the shrine's historical setting.
Additionally, the KHS reported the recent discovery of Joseon Dynasty relics at the site, including an ancient road and a village gate called "imun." Current legislation prohibits construction until excavation is completed. However, the preservation plan for these relics, proposed by the Seoul Housing and Urban Development Corporation, has been criticized for its lack of detail, causing a suspension of the review process.
In response, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre has advised halting the project until a comprehensive heritage impact assessment is conducted. The KHS has requested that the Seoul metropolitan government reply to UNESCO's letter by Friday, warning that failure to respond will result in a request for an immediate on-site inspection by UNESCO officials.
Despite these developments, Seoul city authorities assert that the site does not legally require such assessments, leaving the two parties at an impasse.