The redevelopment project for Sewoon District 4, across from Jongmyo in Seoul, received approval for a modification to its project implementation plan from Jongno District Office, the jurisdictional local government. Although the Korea Heritage Service and the Democratic Party of Korea's newly elected Jongno district chief demanded a halt to the approval process, the current district chief finalized the approval two weeks before leaving office.
According to the Seoul city government and the redevelopment industry on the 18th, Jongno District notified the city after issuing approval that day for a modification to the project implementation plan for the urban-type redevelopment of Sewoon District 4. Once the project implementation plan is approved, the project can move forward in earnest. The remaining step before groundbreaking is approval of the management and disposal plan.
Sewoon District 4 is a downtown redevelopment area opposite the main gate of Jongmyo. In October last year, the city eased height limits by revising the revitalization promotion plan, raising the maximum building height along Jongno from 55 meters to 98.7 meters and along Cheonggyecheon from 71.9 meters to 141.9 meters, but the heritage service opposes high-density development, citing reasons such as damage to the Jongmyo view.
The conflict is expected to intensify. On the 11th, the Korea Heritage Service sent an official letter to the city and Jongno District Office warning that, if the project implementation plan is approved, it would ask the Minister of the competent ministry to cancel it ex officio. In addition, Yu Chan-jong, the Jongno district chief-elect, conveyed through the transition committee a position calling for the suspension of the approval procedure for Sewoon District 4 and said the committee could pursue accountability of those responsible.