The redevelopment of Sewoon District 4 across from Jongmyo in Seoul has hit another critical juncture. The Korea Heritage Service again warned officials to immediately halt permitting procedures for the project and said it would seek to nullify the approval ex officio through the Minister in charge if authorities push ahead. Adding to this, Yoo Chan-jong, the Democratic Party of Korea's incoming Jongno District chief who takes office in July, has also called for a halt to permitting, intensifying the conflict over the project's progress.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government and others on the 15th, the Korea Heritage Service sent an official letter on the 11th to relevant departments at the city and Jongno District Office, issuing a stern warning over the progress of approval procedures for the Sewoon District 4 redevelopment.
In the letter, the Korea Heritage Service said, "Proceeding with the safety impact assessment while an administrative order is already in place to carry out approval procedures after completing the World Heritage Impact Assessment is a violation of a lawful order."
Earlier, on the 5th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government held a final review of the building safety impact assessment and passed the Sewoon District 4 redevelopment with conditions. The only remaining step is approval of the project implementation plan, and once granted, the project will enter full-scale execution.
The Korea Heritage Service said, "We again sternly warn you to defer the project approval procedures," adding, "If you do not comply and force through approval, we will request the Minister in charge to issue a corrective order and revoke the approval ex officio under Article 188 of the Local Autonomy Act."
Article 188 of the Local Autonomy Act provides that the Minister in charge may correct, revoke, or suspend a disposition or order by the head of a local government if it violates laws or regulations. In effect, the Korea Heritage Service publicly warned that it could invalidate the approval itself through the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, its supervising ministry.
A new political variable has also emerged. Yoo Chan-jong, the Jongno District chief-elect, is said to have conveyed through the district's transition committee that the approval procedures for the Sewoon District 4 project implementation plan should be fully halted until his inauguration. He also reportedly said that if approval is granted despite this, he would consider audits and holding responsible officials to account.
By contrast, Chung Moon-hun, the incumbent Jongno District chief from the People Power Party who holds the approval authority, is reportedly intent on completing normal administrative procedures within his term. The argument is that it is difficult to claim illegality since the sitting district chief would be exercising lawful authority.
A Seoul city official also said, "Approval of a project implementation plan is the district chief's inherent authority," adding, "It is hard to view a sitting district chief's performance of duties under the law as illegal."
The conflict over approval for Sewoon District 4 could escalate into a direct clash between the central government and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The Korea Heritage Service says procedures must follow completion of the World Heritage Impact Assessment, while the city and Jongno District believe the project can proceed under existing administrative steps.
A real estate industry official said, "This could become the first major flashpoint with the central government after Oh Se-hoon returns to work as Seoul mayor," adding, "There is a strong chance the early fight for the upper hand will intensify over approval for Sewoon District 4."