Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon pushed back against criticism that the redevelopment of Sewoon District 4 would damage the view of Jongmyo and proposed a public debate with Prime Minister Kim Min-seok.
On the morning of the 10th, Oh said on his Facebook page, "Let's see before the public whether the government or the Seoul city government is being short-sighted," and added, "Let's meet with the prime minister soon and talk."
Oh said, "I saw a report today that Prime Minister Kim Min-seok would visit Jongmyo in person to inspect the site," and added, "Please take a cool-headed look at the reality in Jongno and judge whether leaving things as they are is truly for Jongmyo."
He continued, "While you are there, I recommend that you look around the entire Sewoon Arcade area, not just Jongmyo," explaining, "The Sewoon Arcade area, which has been left like a ruin for nearly 60 years, covered with tin-roof shacks, is in a miserable state."
On the criticism that the Sewoon District 4 redevelopment promotion project would harm the view of Jongmyo, he said it was "something that can never happen."
Oh said, "If a green axis is created connecting Namsan to Jongmyo, there will be no case where Sewoon Arcade blocks Jongmyo," and pointed out that "the claim of a 'forest of high-rises blocking Jongmyo' is a distorted political frame."
He added, "Along both sides of the green axis, we will place buildings step by step from low-rise to high-rise the farther they are from Jongmyo, creating a new landmark in harmony with Jongmyo," and, "On the last week, we proposed to the central government that we discuss the project's specific plans together, but there has been no communication yet."
On the 30th of last month, the Seoul city government announced the "Sewoon Redevelopment Promotion District and District 4 Redevelopment Promotion Plan Decision." Through this, the maximum building heights in Sewoon District 4 were raised from 55 meters along Jongno and 71.9 meters along Cheonggye Stream to 101 meters and 145 meters, respectively.