Conflict Over High-Rise Redevelopment in Front of Jongmyo Intensifies... Cultural Heritage Administration Requests Administrative Mediation

Dispute Over Height Increase in Sewoon Zone 4

Seoul Metropolitan Government Faces Lawsuit Worth 16 Billion Won from Residents

Yonhap News

The conflict over high-rise redevelopment in front of Jongmyo Shrine in Seoul is set to be reviewed by the Administrative Coordination Committee under the Prime Minister's Office.

On March 10, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced that it had formally submitted an official request last month for the committee to address disagreements related to the redevelopment project in Sewoon District 4 as an agenda item. The committee is an organization that mediates disputes between government ministries and local governments, and both parties are legally obligated to comply with its decisions. However, as the term of the 12th civilian members of the committee has expired and the next appointments are currently underway, it is expected to take a considerable amount of time before official mediation discussions begin.

The main point of direct confrontation between the two sides is the height restriction on buildings in Sewoon District 4, which is located opposite Jongmyo Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site. After a review by the Cultural Heritage Administration, an agreement was reached in 2018 to limit the height to 55 meters along the Jongno side and 71.9 meters along the Cheonggyecheon side.

However, the Seoul Metropolitan Government significantly raised the maximum height last year to 145 meters (or 141.9 meters if the angled regulation is applied). Since then, the two sides have remained at odds over whether to conduct a World Heritage Impact Assessment to verify the redevelopment project's impact on Jongmyo Shrine, as well as over the method for measuring the visual landscape.

On the 8th, residents from the Sewoon District, including representatives from Sewoon District 4, held a press conference at Dasi Sewoon Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, regarding the Cultural Heritage Administration's refusal to permit simulation demonstration filming. 2026.1.8 Photo by Jinhyung Kang

As the situation deteriorated, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre sent official letters in March and November of last year, recommending an impact assessment of the development around Jongmyo Shrine. The Cultural Heritage Administration also urged the Seoul Metropolitan Government to halt its unilateral integrated review process, criticizing the city for failing to fulfill its international obligations.

Recently, the Sewoon District 4 Residents' Representative Council filed a lawsuit seeking damages of up to 16 billion won against Heo Min, Administrator of the Cultural Heritage Administration, and related staff. In a recent media interview regarding this issue, Administrator Heo firmly stated, "It is difficult to accept the proposal for a 'four-party consultative body' from the Seoul Metropolitan Government that includes the Residents' Representative Council, as they are a litigant in this lawsuit." He also emphasized, "I hope the Seoul Metropolitan Government will come up with a development plan that can coexist with heritage preservation."

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