CCEJ: "Development Sacrificing Public Value Must Stop... Concerns Over Permanent Damage to Jongmyo's Value"

"Height Restrictions Are to Protect Universal Human Values"
"Short-Term Development Gains and Preferential Regulatory Relaxations Must Be Halted"

View of Sewoon District 4, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Regarding the redevelopment of Sewoon District 4 in front of Jongmyo, the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice (CCEJ) has called for an immediate halt to development that sacrifices public value for private gain.

On the 13th, CCEJ issued a statement saying, "This issue goes beyond a simple individual building permit. We express serious concern that easing building regulations under the pretext of exercising private property rights could permanently damage the value of public goods-namely, world cultural heritage-which are the shared assets of humanity."

The statement continued, "While private property rights are fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution, they may simultaneously be restricted by law for the sake of public welfare. The height restrictions around Jongmyo, which is not only an important cultural heritage of Korea but also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, are not merely landscape regulations. Rather, they are essential institutional measures established to protect universal human values."

Previously, the city changed the maximum building heights in Sewoon District 4 from the original 55 meters along Jongno and 71.9 meters along Cheonggyecheon to 101 meters along Jongno and 145 meters along Cheonggyecheon. The Supreme Court ruled that deleting the provision restricting construction within 100 meters of the Jongmyo boundary was not illegal, thereby allowing the project to proceed.

However, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the National Heritage Administration have opposed the project, arguing that it could undermine the view and surrounding landscape of Jongmyo, a UNESCO World Heritage site. They have also indicated their intention to block the project through legislative amendments and the enactment of special laws. In response, the city has stated that the redevelopment zone is located 180 meters away from Jongmyo and thus lies outside the 100-meter boundary of the historic and cultural preservation area, meaning it is not subject to consultation with the National Heritage Administration.

CCEJ further stated, "The background to Seoul City's relaxation of regulations near Jongmyo appears to prioritize the high profit demands of developers over the public interest and historical responsibility. The Supreme Court's acceptance of this is a clear violation of the 'principle of prioritizing public interest,' which the judiciary ought to uphold."

CCEJ added, "We urge Seoul City to immediately halt short-term development gains and preferential regulatory relaxations, and to promptly establish fundamental measures to protect the world heritage value of Jongmyo. Creating and preserving a city for the public good and for future generations must remain the first principle that the Mayor of Seoul observes."