[2026 National Assembly Audit] Sparring Over Sewoon 4 District... Opposition: "Double Standard"; Ruling Party: "Actively Respond"

Korea Heritage Service Audit

At the National Assembly's audit of the National Heritage Administration on Oct. 8, lawmakers clashed over the agency's response to the redevelopment project in Sewoon District 4, in front of Jongmyo Shrine. The opposition cited the government's housing supply plan for Taereung and other cases, calling the response a "double standard," while the ruling party urged the agency to "respond proactively to the Seoul Metropolitan Government's cancellation of approval for the amended project implementation plan for Sewoon District 4."

The National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee held an audit of the National Heritage Administration and other agencies at the National Assembly that morning. The ruling and opposition parties continued to clash over the redevelopment of Sewoon District 4, in front of Jongmyo Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon is pushing ahead with plans for high-rise redevelopment in Sewoon District 4, putting him at odds with the government.

The site in May 2023 (top), when archaeological excavations were in full swing ahead of the redevelopment of Seoul’s Sewoon District 4, and in the summer of 2026, when construction had halted and the area was overgrown with weeds. Photo by Heo Younghan

The People Power Party criticized the National Heritage Administration for taking issue only with the Sewoon District 4 project. The agency is pursuing measures including revoking approval of the amended plan and issuing corrective orders, arguing that the high-rise buildings proposed for Sewoon District 4 could damage Jongmyo's historic and cultural landscape and therefore require a World Heritage Impact Assessment.

Jeong Yeonuk, a People Power Party lawmaker, said, "The issues involving Taereung and the Seokgwan-dong campus of Korea National University of Arts have remained unresolved for 17 years. Why, then, is the agency emphasizing World Heritage status and pushing ahead at speed when it comes to Sewoon District 4?" He added, "The National Heritage Administration will inevitably face criticism that its actions are hypocritical and apply a double standard."

Jeong also questioned the process of amending the enforcement decree that set the timing of the assessment. "A provision that was not in the amendment proposed for public notice - the timing - was added to the enforcement decree. When an important provision changes, the Administrative Procedures Act requires another legislative notice, but the agency brushed this aside, saying the matter had entered the Ministry of Government Legislation's review process," he said.

People Power Party lawmaker Yun Yonggeun, referring to remarks by National Heritage Administration Administrator Heo Min on social media, said, "It is surprising that he seemed to suggest the outcome would depend on the project operator's willingness to accept the decision, even before an assessment had been conducted, when the question of whether development is possible at both Jongmyo and Taereung still needs to be assessed."

In response to criticism that the agency was applying a double standard, Administrator Heo Min said, "We are not applying different standards." He added, "The assessment is meant to find a balance between preservation and development. The issue with Sewoon District 4 could have been resolved by proceeding with development as agreed in 2018."

Meanwhile, lawmakers from the ruling party urged the National Heritage Administration to respond more proactively to the issue. Jo Gyewon, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker, said of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's refusal to revoke approval for the amended plan, "Legal procedures to protect national heritage have been rendered powerless by a unilateral administrative action by a local government."

Heo said, "Alongside pursuing legal action, we are trying to find a way to work together with residents' representatives, but things are not going well." He added, "I would like to reiterate to the public and local residents that a World Heritage Impact Assessment does not mean that buildings cannot be built; it means that we should coordinate together and build them."

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