Ministry of National Defense Actively Welcomes Opposition to Development of Taereung Golf Course Site

Seoul City Councilor Park Hwan-hee Actively Welcomes the Ministry of National Defense’s Confirmation to Oppose Development of Taereung Golf Course Site

On the 23rd, SBS News reported that the Ministry of National Defense, owner of the Taereung Golf Course site, has delivered its final stance opposing the construction of 10,000 housing units to the Presidential Office

Councilor Park Hwan-hee has continued her heartfelt efforts to preserve the Taegangneung World Cultural Heritage site since submitting a petition against the development of Taereung CC in July last year

In particular, she requested the Cultural Heritage Administration to institutionalize the World Heritage Impact Assessment system to evaluate the effects of development projects on cultural assets and to designate a buffer zone around the Taereung lotus pond

"Urging the President’s decisive action to prevent the unfortunate cancellation of World Heritage registration due to reckless development, which would result in losing cultural leadership among Korea, China, and Japan"

Park Hwan-hee, Chairperson of the Seoul City Council’s Steering Committee (People Power Party, Nowon 2), on the 23rd, expressed strong support for the Ministry of National Defense’s final position opposing the development of 10,000 housing units on the Taereung Golf Course site.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced plans in August 2020 as part of the 8.4 Real Estate Market Stabilization Measures to supply 10,000 public housing units on the Taereung Golf Course site. However, local residents and the Seoul City Council opposed the plan citing protection of the Taegangneung World Cultural Heritage site and natural monuments, resulting in the project scale being reduced from 10,000 to 6,800 units.

Notably, Park Hwan-hee, a native of Gongneung-dong, submitted a ‘resident petition’ opposing the development of the Taereung Golf Course site in July last year with the consent of over 3,000 residents. The Seoul City Council’s standing committee chairpersons personally visited the site and strongly urged the government to preserve the lotus pond of the Taegangneung World Cultural Heritage site and protect the ecosystem.

Chairperson Park stated, “The lotus pond (Yeonji) of Taegangneung serves as a ‘sponge’ to protect the Joseon royal tombs. If apartment development occurs around this lotus pond area, cases like the cancellation of World Heritage registration in Liverpool, the maritime city in the UK, could happen. This could cause Korea to lose its leadership in the Korea-China-Japan competition over World Heritage sites. Therefore, the President’s magnanimous decision is needed at this time.” She added, “As one of the guardians of World Cultural Heritage, I will devote all my efforts to introducing the World Heritage Impact Assessment and designating a buffer zone around the lotus pond to protect the World Heritage sites threatened by various developments.”

Chairperson Park is scheduled to receive the commencement report of a research project on July 4th titled ‘Basic Plan for Protection and Management of Joseon Royal Tombs, World Cultural Heritage in Seoul (Focusing on Conservation Measures for Taegangneung Area Exposed to Regional Development Pressure)’ around the lotus pond area of Taegangneung.

◆Chairperson Park Hwan-hee’s Taegangneung Preservation Activities: First petition against apartment development (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport), resolution urging measures to preserve Taereung lotus pond (Cultural Heritage Administration), request for designation of Taereung lotus pond as wetland (Seoul City), Taereung lotus pond research project, World Heritage Impact Assessment introduction forum, enactment of Cultural Heritage Guardian Ordinance (2022), plogging event (2022)

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