Seoul pushes ahead with 145m building near Jongmyo Shrine despite heritage concerns

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has resumed his duties following local elections and is accelerating plans for a controversial 145-meter-tall building project situated opposite the historic Jongmyo Shrine. The city's architectural committee has already completed its review, approving the project with conditions related to structural integrity checks before construction begins.

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The architectural review for the Seun 4 district plan change has already been completed in February. What remains are the business execution plan change approval, which is under the authority of the Jongno District Mayor, and the permit from the National Heritage Agency under the 'Act on the Protection and Investigation of Buried Cultural Heritage'.

However, the National Heritage Agency has intervened, issuing an administrative order to Seoul City, the Jongno District Office, and the project developer, Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation. The agency demands that no changes be made to the project's implementation plan until a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) is conducted and its results are incorporated. This has created a significant point of contention, with the potential for a protracted dispute over the development.

The project, located in the Seun 4 district of Jongno-gu, involves demolishing existing structures to make way for the high-rise building. Mayor Oh's administration had previously proposed a plan to create a large green space, three times the size of Gwanghwamun Square, by demolishing the Seun Sangga complex. To fund this, regulations on building height and floor area ratio were significantly relaxed, allowing for a building nearly double the originally approved height and a substantial increase in floor area ratio.

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If the business execution plan change approval for the Seun 4 district proceeds while the current district mayor is still in office, I will investigate the process and hold those responsible strictly accountable. The permit for the redevelopment project in front of Jongmyo Shrine must be decided cautiously after hearing various opinions.

While Seoul's architectural review is complete, the final decision rests with the Jongno District Office, which must approve the implementation plan. The newly elected district mayor, Yoo Chang-jong, has indicated a cautious approach, stating that the permit should be granted only after considering various opinions. The National Heritage Agency has also stated its intention to initiate cancellation procedures if the district office proceeds with approval, citing the administrative order as legally binding. The developer, Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation, has filed an administrative lawsuit seeking to nullify the heritage agency's order.

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If an administrative order is issued and not followed, it is a violation of the law. The Local Autonomy Act stipulates that dispositions by local governments can be canceled if they are illegal.