The Seoul city government said it attempted an on-site demonstration in Sewoon District 4 to resolve the dispute over damage to the Jongmyo view, but expressed regret that the Korea Heritage Service did not grant permission.
Spokesperson Lee Min-gyeong of the Seoul city government said on the 7th in a statement, "We express deep regret that the Korea Heritage Service unilaterally refused filming from the sangwoldae of the Jongmyo main hall, which the city requested for objective and public verification of the Sewoon District 4 landscape simulation."
The Seoul city government decided to ease the height limit in Sewoon District 4, about 170 meters from Jongmyo, to as high as 141.9 meters, but the Korea Heritage Service and the ruling party demanded a withdrawal, saying it could damage the value of Jongmyo. In response, the city disclosed a projected view of the buildings as seen from the sangwoldae of the Jongmyo main hall and attempted verification by installing an advertising balloon at the same height as the planned buildings and filming from the hangwoldae and surrounding areas. However, the Korea Heritage Service is said to have refused this on the grounds of "impairment of heritage conservation, management, and viewing environment."
Lee said, "On the 8th of this month, we sought to hold an on-site briefing at the sangwoldae with participation from the Korea Heritage Service, the Seoul city government, the press corps, and Urban Planning Committee Commissioners to present the core site of the controversy to the public as is, but the Korea Heritage Service refused filming for reasons we cannot accept."
Lee said, "This decision, which blocked an opportunity for objective verification to settle the controversy and the efforts of the Seoul city government, raises doubts about whether the Korea Heritage Service even intends to resolve the conflict," adding, "It even makes us suspect there is an intention to prolong the conflict and amplify unnecessary misunderstandings and distrust."
Lee added, "Jongmyo is a shared cultural heritage enjoyed by all Seoul citizens, and the debate over its value must also be transparently verified before the public," and said, "The Korea Heritage Service should permit filming from the sangwoldae of the Jongmyo main hall and jointly participate with the Seoul city government in verifying the landscape simulation."