Lawmakers press heritage chief over Sewoon 4 high-rises near Jongmyo at audit
In short
At a National Assembly audit of the Korea Heritage Service on Oct. 8, lawmakers clashed over the agency's opposition to high-rise redevelopment of Seoul's Sewoon District 4 in front of Jongmyo shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site. People Power Party lawmakers accused the agency of a double standard, citing government housing plans near the Taereung royal tomb, while Democratic Party lawmaker Jo Gye-won (조계원) urged it to respond more actively to Seoul City. Agency head Heo Min (허민) said it was not applying different standards.
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Lawmakers from both main parties pressed Korea Heritage Service head Heo Min (허민) on Oct. 8 over the redevelopment of Sewoon District 4 in front of Jongmyo shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and over government housing plans for the Taereung golf course in Nowon district, at the National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee's audit of the agency, Yonhap and Asia Economy reported. Asia Economy said Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is pushing a high-rise redevelopment plan for the district and is in conflict with the government over it. [ 2 , 3 ]
The agency has opposed the high-rise plan, saying it would damage the view from Jongmyo, and has ordered a world heritage impact assessment, Yonhap reported. Asia Economy said the agency is pursuing cancellation of Seoul's approval of changes to the project plan, as well as corrective orders. Yonhap reported that Oh then questioned the government's Jan. 29 capital-region housing supply measures, which include developing the Taereung golf course next to the Taereung world heritage site. [ 2 , 3 ]
People Power Party lawmaker Jung Yeon-wook (정연욱) said the relocation of the Korea National University of Arts Seokgwan-dong campus, on the site of the Uireung royal tomb, had been left for 17 years. "Why is only Sewoon 4 in front of Jongmyo pushed at speed, with a police complaint and cancellation of approval?" he said, calling the agency's handling a double standard. Asia Economy reported he also said a provision on the timing of the assessment was added to an enforcement decree without a fresh pre-announcement. Party colleague Yoon Yong-geun (윤용근) asked whether the land ministry had been consulted on building apartments at the Taereung golf course and whether housing there could be cut or blocked if its assessment, not yet completed, proved unfavourable. [ 2 , 3 ]
Democratic Party lawmaker Jo Gye-won (조계원) backed the agency. "World heritage must not become a means for developers to make money," he said, according to Yonhap. He said the Cultural Heritage Committee capped building height in Sewoon 4 at 71.9 m in 2014, but Seoul raised the maximum to 145 m, and asked whether developers had influenced the change. Asia Economy reported he said Seoul's refusal of the agency's cancellation had neutralised legal procedures for protecting heritage. [ 2 , 3 ]
Heo said the agency was "not applying the standard differently" and that Sewoon 4 could have been developed as agreed in 2018, Asia Economy reported. He said the agency is pursuing legal action and seeking a way to coexist with resident representatives, but that this is not going well, adding that the assessment means building after coordination, not a ban on building. [ 2 ]
In a preview, Newsis reported that the committee was auditing eight bodies from 10 a.m., that former Seoul official Cho Nam-jun and SH president Hwang Sang-ha were due as witnesses, and that admission fees for palaces and royal tombs and allegations about the agency were expected to be raised. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The audit carried the dispute between Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and the heritage agency over building heights near Jongmyo into parliament. Lawmakers also linked it to the government's housing plan for the Taereung golf course, whose world heritage impact assessment, according to a lawmaker's question, has not yet produced results.
Key facts
- The National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee audited the Korea Heritage Service on Oct. 8. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The agency has ordered a world heritage impact assessment and opposes a high-rise plan for Sewoon District 4, saying it would damage the landscape of Jongmyo shrine. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Asia Economy reported the agency is pursuing cancellation of Seoul's approval of changes to the project plan and corrective orders. [ 2 ]
- People Power Party lawmaker Jung Yeon-wook (정연욱) called the agency's handling a double standard, saying the relocation of the Korea National University of Arts Seokgwan-dong campus has gone unresolved for 17 years. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Democratic Party lawmaker Jo Gye-won said the Cultural Heritage Committee limited building height in Sewoon 4 to 71.9 m in 2014, but Seoul raised the maximum to 145 m. [ 3 ]
- People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Yong-geun (윤용근) asked whether housing at the Taereung golf course could be reduced or blocked if its world heritage impact assessment is unfavourable. [ 3 ]
- Heo Min said the agency is not applying different standards and that the assessment does not mean buildings cannot be built. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The culture committee held its audit of the Korea Heritage Service on Oct. 8. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The Sewoon District 4 redevelopment in front of Jongmyo was the main point of dispute at the audit. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The heritage agency opposes the high-rise plan and requires a world heritage impact assessment. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Jung Yeon-wook accused the agency of a double standard, contrasting its speed on Sewoon 4 with the 17-year delay over the Korea National University of Arts campus. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Jo Gye-won backed the agency's position against Seoul City. [ 2 , 3 ]
- In 2014 the Cultural Heritage Committee capped building height in Sewoon 4 at 71.9 m, and Seoul later raised the maximum to 145 m, according to Jo Gye-won. [ 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the Taereung golf course housing plan will be changed. Yoon Yong-geun asked whether it could be reduced or stopped, and said its world heritage impact assessment results are not yet out; no answer is reported.
- Whether the enforcement decree setting the timing of the assessment should have been re-announced before adoption. Only Asia Economy reports Jung Yeon-wook's claim; no agency response is reported.
- Whether palace and royal tomb admission fees and allegations about the agency were raised at the audit. Newsis listed them in a preview as expected topics; the reports from the audit do not mention them.
- Whether the scheduled witnesses appeared and what they said. Newsis said they were due to appear; no outlet reports their testimony.
- The state of the agency's dispute with Seoul City. Heo said legal action and talks with resident representatives are under way but not going well; no further detail is given.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Newsis publishes a preview saying the Sewoon 4 dispute is expected to come up at the audit. [ 1 ]
- The culture committee's audit of the Korea Heritage Service and seven other bodies is scheduled to begin. [ 1 ]
- Asia Economy reports the clash over Sewoon 4 at the audit. [ 2 ]
- Yonhap reports lawmakers from both parties pressing Heo Min over Sewoon and Taereung. [ 3 ]