It turned out that about 13% of the site of Taereung Golf Course (Taereung CC) in Nowon District, where the government said it would supply 6,800 dwellings, overlaps with the historical and cultural environment preservation area of the Joseon royal tombs, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Seoul city government said on the 30th, "As a result of comparing the Taereung CC project site with the historical and cultural environment preservation area under the Cultural Heritage Protection Act for Taereung and Gangneung, the Joseon royal tombs (within 100 meters from the outer boundary of the heritage), it is estimated that about 13% of the project site overlaps."
Under the Special Act on the Preservation, Management and Utilization of World Heritage, any development project that is even partially included in or adjacent to a World Heritage site must undergo a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA), regardless of area ratio.
The city asserted, "The Taereung CC project underwent an HIA in the past, and it is necessary to conduct an assessment in accordance with relevant laws and regulations during the implementation process going forward."
Regarding the government's opposition to development of Sewoon District 4 in front of Jongmyo, the city explained, "Sewoon District 4 is located outside the Jongmyo World Heritage site and is therefore not subject to the HIA mandate under the World Heritage Special Act."
Earlier, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport the previous day announced a "plan to expand and expedite the supply of dwellings in urban areas," which includes building 6,800 dwellings on the Taereung CC site.