Police Summon Representatives of Construction Companies for 'Geomdan New Town Wangneung Apartment' Investigation

Apartment Construction Proceeded Without Cultural Heritage Administration Approval... Representatives Fully Deny Charges

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The police have launched a full-scale investigation into the heads of construction companies who built apartments near Gimpo Jangneung, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, without permission from the Cultural Heritage Administration.

On the 7th, the Incheon Western Police Station announced that it summoned and investigated Mr. A, CEO of Daebang Construction, and Mr. B, CEO of JS Global, who were reported for violating the Cultural Heritage Protection Act. The police plan to summon and investigate Mr. C, CEO of Daekwang ENC, who was also reported for the same charges, around mid-month.

According to the police, they are suspected of constructing apartments in Geomdan New Town, Seo-gu, Incheon, near the Joseon royal tomb Gimpo Jangneung, since 2019 without undergoing the review of the Cultural Heritage Committee of the Cultural Heritage Administration.

During the police investigation, both Mr. A and Mr. B reportedly denied the related charges.

Additionally, the police have booked and are investigating one public official from Seo-gu Office in Incheon on charges of dereliction of duty related to the approval of the apartment projects by these construction companies.

Earlier, the police conducted raids at the three construction companies and Seo-gu Office, securing and analyzing documents related to apartment permits. The police have been investigating since September 6 last year, when the Cultural Heritage Administration filed a complaint against these construction companies for violating the Cultural Heritage Protection Act.

The construction companies have stated that Incheon Urban Corporation, the project implementer of Geomdan New Town, obtained cultural heritage-related permits in 2014, and subsequently received housing project approval from Seo-gu Office, thus legally constructing the apartments.

On the other hand, the Cultural Heritage Administration claims that the construction companies violated the Cultural Heritage Protection Act by building apartments over 20 meters high within the 500-meter radius historical and cultural environment preservation area around Gimpo Jangneung without prior review. Although the Cultural Heritage Administration ordered the suspension of construction on 19 out of 44 apartment buildings in the approximately 3,400-unit Geomdan New Town project, the court accepted the construction companies’ request for suspension of the order, allowing construction to resume.

Furthermore, the police plan to investigate a case where prospective apartment residents filed a complaint last December against former and current heads of the Cultural Heritage Administration for dereliction of duty, holding them responsible for the current situation.

The prospective residents argue that when the Cultural Heritage Administration announced in January 2017 that buildings over 20 meters high near Gimpo Jangneung must undergo review, it failed to directly notify related agencies, leading to this situation.

The Cultural Heritage Administration maintains that the announcement took effect upon publication in the official gazette and that the construction companies should have obtained permission for changes to cultural heritage sites when building the apartments.

Privately owned Gimpo Jangneung is the tomb of King Wonjong, posthumously honored as the father of King Injo of Joseon, and his wife Queen Inheon, and is included among the Joseon royal tombs designated as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.

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