A heritage advisory committee has expressed serious opposition to Seoul's plans for constructing high-rise buildings near the historic Jongmyo Shrine, one of Korea's most significant cultural landmarks. The Cultural Heritage Committee, operating under the Korea Heritage Service (KHS), strongly criticized the Seoul Metropolitan Government's latest development proposal for the Sewun 4 District, which sits directly across from the 14th-century Confucian shrine.
The committee described Seoul's development initiative as "a move that disregards social consensus" and announced it is "following the series of developments seriously." This advisory body, which is specifically responsible for studying and deliberating on matters related to the preservation and management of cultural heritage sites, emphasized that the city's current approach fundamentally undermines previous agreements and collaborative efforts.
According to the committee, a comprehensive agreement was reached with the Seoul Metropolitan Government in 2018 that established specific height restrictions for buildings in the area surrounding Jongmyo Shrine. Under this carefully negotiated arrangement, buildings overlooking the Jongno area were limited to a maximum height of 55 meters, while structures overlooking Cheonggye Stream could reach up to 71.9 meters. The committee stressed that this solution was "the product of coordination where preservation and development can coexist" and represented "years of consultation and review, with agreement from all parties involved."
However, Seoul city officials have recently revised these height limitations significantly upward, increasing the maximum permitted heights to 101 meters and 145 meters respectively. This substantial increase has prompted fierce criticism from heritage preservation advocates. The Cultural Heritage Committee condemned this height revision as a clear demonstration of bias favoring development interests over cultural preservation concerns.
The committee has called upon the Seoul Metropolitan Government to conduct a comprehensive World Heritage Impact Assessment before proceeding with any development plans. They emphasized that preserving Jongmyo's cultural and historical value represents "an international commitment and obligation" that South Korea must uphold as a member of the UNESCO World Heritage community.
Jongmyo Shrine holds particular significance as one of South Korea's earliest UNESCO World Heritage sites, having received this designation in 1995. The site was recognized for its outstanding universal value as the oldest and most intact royal Confucian shrine in the world. According to the Korea Heritage Service, UNESCO's original inscription conditions explicitly required that no high-rise building permits be granted in adjacent areas that could potentially harm the landscape and visual integrity of this World Heritage site. This international recognition underscores the global importance of maintaining the shrine's historical context and surrounding environment.
