Cultural Heritage Administration Files Complaint Against SH Corporation for Unauthorized Drilling in Sewoon District 4

International Community Blocks Seoul's Redevelopment Push
UNESCO Warns: "Jongmyo's World Heritage Status at Risk"
On-Site Inspection Planned if Heritage Impact Assessment Is Not Accepted This Month

Drilling scene at the Seoul Sewoon District 4 store heritage excavation site

The Cultural Heritage Administration filed a complaint on March 16 against Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation (SH Corporation) for conducting unauthorized drilling in the preserved heritage area of Sewoon District 4 without permission.

This measure follows the discovery on March 11 of unauthorized alterations at eleven excavation sites in front of Jongmyo, leading to the immediate withdrawal of all heavy equipment brought into the area. The site in question has not yet received notification of the completion of its archaeological survey, and by current law, all alterations to the site are strictly prohibited.

The UNESCO World Heritage Centre has also intervened to halt the forced development by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. In a letter sent via the Cultural Heritage Administration on March 14, the center warned, "The forced development of the Sewoon district by the Seoul Metropolitan Government will have a highly negative impact on the World Heritage status of Jongmyo." It further pressured the city by stating, "Unless there is a formal commitment to accept a Heritage Impact Assessment within this month, we will consider placing the issue on the conservation agenda or conducting an official on-site inspection at the 48th World Heritage Committee session to be held in Busan this July."

Despite the recommendations of international organizations and requests from the relevant ministry to suspend permits, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is pushing ahead with the development. On March 19, the city plans to convene the Integrated Review Committee for the Maintenance Project and aims to complete project implementation approval next month. In response, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced that it would hold a briefing at the National Palace Museum of Korea on the afternoon of March 16 to express strong regret to both the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Jongno District, and to formalize its firm legal response.

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