[Jongmyo Conflict] Urban Regeneration vs. World Heritage Preservation... Seoul's Dilemma

The Essence of the Conflict Lies in Pace and Method, Not in Choice
A Range of Options: World Heritage Designation, Impact Assessments, and More
Recent Disputes Pose a Test for What Kind of City Seoul Will Become

Sewoon Shopping Center and Redevelopment Zone Visible Beyond Jongmyo Shrine Photo by Yonhap News

Is it possible to build a 140-meter-high skyscraper directly facing Jongmyo Shrine in the heart of Seoul? The conflict among the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Cultural Heritage Administration, and UNESCO over the redevelopment plan for Sewoon District 4 goes beyond a simple urban planning dispute, raising the question for Seoul: Should the priority be heritage preservation or urban regeneration?

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has proposed a vision to reorganize the Sewoon area as a green corridor and a hub for business, aiming to restore both the three-dimensional landscape connecting Jongmyo Shrine, Cheonggyecheon Stream, and Namsan Mountain, as well as the city center’s functions. The plan includes renovating aging industrial and commercial buildings and creating mixed-use facilities for global companies and residential spaces, thereby strengthening Seoul’s international competitiveness.

Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon stated, “Restoring the functions of the city center, expanding green spaces, and creating jobs are tasks that can no longer be delayed,” adding, “Based on precise simulations, we are pursuing height relaxation within limits that do not harm the view of Jongmyo Shrine.”

Landowners and developers in the redevelopment area argue, “With the project delayed for nearly 20 years, financial burdens and local slumification have intensified,” and appeal, “If preservation discussions remain detached from reality, it will become impossible to carry out large-scale redevelopment anywhere in the city center.”

A ceremony is being held on the 18th at Jongmyo in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the ruling and opposition parties continue to clash over redevelopment near Jongmyo. Photo by Yonhap News

On the other hand, the Cultural Heritage Administration and UNESCO emphasize the principle that “landscape and views are also part of heritage.” Heo Min, Commissioner of the Cultural Heritage Administration, stated, “The value of Jongmyo Shrine lies not only in its rituals and buildings, but also in the low skyline, open sky, and the overall atmosphere created by the spatial axis,” adding, “A scientific and transparent impact assessment is necessary to determine whether high-rise development will damage this axis.”

UNESCO has also expressed concerns in diplomatic documents about the potential for Jongmyo Shrine’s outstanding value to be compromised, and has requested a World Heritage impact assessment. This is not simply a demand to halt development, but rather a call for a verification process that the international community can accept.

Prime Minister Kim Minseok stated, “The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Cultural Heritage Administration must find a solution that does not undermine the trust of the international community.” While the central government has not officially taken sides, it appears to be considering a comprehensive approach, taking into account relations with UNESCO and future heritage inscription strategies. The current controversy raises questions about how far the government will go as a mediator and what principles it will establish at the intersection of urban regeneration and heritage preservation.

For residents and developers in Sewoon District 4, time is passing quickly. In contrast, for institutions dealing with heritage and for UNESCO, time must move slowly, as World Heritage sites are expected to remain unchanged even decades from now.

Landowners in the area are shouting slogans after holding a press conference on the 11th in front of Dasi Sewoon Plaza in Jongno-gu, Seoul, in response to the Cultural Heritage Administration raising issues regarding the redevelopment project of Sewoon District 4 near Jongmyo, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The Seoul Metropolitan Government says, “There is no more time to lose,” while the Cultural Heritage Administration and UNESCO insist, “Thorough verification is necessary.” Ultimately, the essence of the conflict surrounding Jongmyo Shrine is not about choosing one over the other, but about determining the pace and method for achieving balance.

There are a variety of options, such as designating the area as a World Heritage site, conducting impact assessments, adjusting building heights, altering design and layout, and expanding resident compensation and participation. Depending on which combination is chosen, Seoul could become either a city that preserves its heritage while remaining vibrant, or a city that satisfies neither development nor preservation.