Apartment Complex Covering World Heritage Royal Tombs... Cultural Heritage Administration "Received Improvement Plans from Construction Companies"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] It has been reported that construction companies have submitted improvement plans regarding the controversy over the construction of apartments near Gimpo Jangneung, where the Cultural Heritage Administration pointed out that construction was being pursued without permission and demanded a halt to the work.

On the 11th, a Cultural Heritage Administration official stated, "We have received improvement plans from all three construction companies building apartments in Geomdan New Town, Seo-gu, Incheon, near Gimpo Jangneung." However, the official added, "We have not yet scheduled the Cultural Heritage Committee meeting as we need to internally verify facts such as surveying," and "It is also undecided whether the Royal Tombs Subcommittee and the World Heritage Subcommittee will hold a joint meeting."

Earlier, the Cultural Heritage Administration demanded that the construction companies building high-rise apartments between Gimpo Jangneung and Gyeyangsan submit measures by today to reduce the impact of the buildings on the historical and cultural environment of Jangneung. The Administration judged that among the 44 apartment buildings to be constructed in Geomdan New Town, 19 buildings located in the historical and cultural preservation area had not undergone review. On the other hand, the construction companies maintain that there were no particular issues with the administrative procedures.

Currently, at Gimpo Jangneung, high-rise apartments obstructing the view from the royal tomb have been constructed without permission, causing ongoing conflicts among the Cultural Heritage Administration, construction companies, and prospective residents. Gimpo Jangneung is one of the forty Joseon royal tombs registered as a World Heritage site. It is the burial site of King Wonjong, posthumously honored as the father of King Injo, and his wife Queen Inheon. Originally, Wonjong’s tomb was located in Geumgok, Namyangju. After King Injo ascended the throne through a coup, it was newly established in Gimpo. Joseon royal tombs are situated according to pungsu (feng shui) principles, with a main mountain (jusan) behind and an ancestral mountain (josan) in front, which corresponds to a dragon’s peak. At Gimpo Jangneung, the josan is Gyeyangsan. However, the large-scale apartment complex developed in Geomdan New Town, Incheon, has obscured this view.

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