On the 17th, it emerged that UNESCO had officially demanded strong measures, saying it was concerned about damage to cultural heritage, over the redevelopment project being pushed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in front of Jongmyo (宗廟).
Hur Min, Administrator of the Korea Heritage Service, said at a press briefing held on the 17th at the auditorium of the National Palace Museum of Korea in Jongno-gu, Seoul, "We recently received a message from UNESCO calling for strong measures," adding, "This is a diplomatic document and an official document."
The UNESCO document, in the name of the World Heritage Center (WHC), was delivered to the Korea Heritage Service on the 15th via the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Korea to UNESCO. The World Heritage Center is the secretariat that handles all administrative work related to world heritage.
Administrator Hur said, "The UNESCO side explicitly stated that it is concerned that high-rise building development in Sewoon District 4 could damage Jongmyo, a World Heritage site, and recommended that an impact assessment be mandatory." He added, "With a complaint filed by a third party, the UNESCO side asked our government to reply within a month with its opinion and additional information."
Administrator Hur also said regarding the Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA), "It specified that approval of the project (related to Sewoon District 4 by the Seoul Metropolitan Government) should be suspended until the center and advisory bodies complete a positive review." The Korea Heritage Service sent an official letter containing the relevant content to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the morning of the same day.
Jongmyo is a national shrine where the spirit tablets of past kings and queens of Joseon and the Korean Empire, and emperors and empresses, are enshrined and rites are performed. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in Dec. 1995. Along with Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple, and the Janggyeong Panjeon of Haein Temple, it is one of Korea's first World Heritage sites.
Recently, the Seoul Metropolitan Government promulgated the "Decision (Change) on the Sewoon Redevelopment Promotion District and District 4 Redevelopment Promotion Plan and Topographic Map," centered on raising the building height in Sewoon District 4 to a maximum of 145 meters.