A view of Jongmyo Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site in central Seoul (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a disputed ordinance allowing large-scale redevelopment just outside designated cultural preservation zones in Seoul, clearing the way for a long-stalled city project near one of the capital’s most sacred heritage sites.
The court ruled that the Seoul Metropolitan Council acted lawfully when it passed a 2023 ordinance permitting construction up to 100 meters beyond the boundaries of nationally protected cultural properties.
The decision affirms the city’s authority to regulate urban development around, but not within, heritage sites — a key distinction that could reshape how Seoul balances preservation and growth.
The case centered on the city’s ambitious plan to redevelop Seun Zone 4, an area directly across from Jongmyo Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site in central Seoul that houses the ancestral tablets of the Joseon Dynasty.
In October, the city announced it would relax height limits in the district, allowing buildings to rise to 101 meters along Jongno and 145 meters near Cheonggye Stream — roughly double the current limits.
Wol-lang (side corridors of the main hall) at Jongmyo Shrine (Image provided by the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, Korea Heritage Service)
Preservation groups and cultural officials warned that the changes could mar the shrine’s historical landscape, while city planners argued the site lies safely 180 meters from the shrine’s boundary and therefore outside the legal protection zone.
Under South Korea’s Cultural Heritage Act, local governments must consult with the Korea Heritage Service when designating protected areas. The culture minister had petitioned the court to void the revised ordinance, arguing that Seoul had failed to seek the agency’s approval.
The Supreme Court rejected that argument, ruling that consultation is not required for construction projects located outside the designated preservation perimeter. The decision is final, as challenges to municipal ordinances of this kind are decided in a single Supreme Court trial.
Aerial view of Jongmyo Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site (Image provided by the Korea Heritage Service National Heritage Portal)
Seoul officials welcomed the outcome, calling it a turning point for urban renewal. “The Seun Zone 4 redevelopment, stalled for more than two decades, can now move forward,” the metropolitan government said in a statement, adding that it plans to include a large park to complement the Jongmyo area’s cultural significance.
The Korea Heritage Service said it respects the ruling and will work with UNESCO and related agencies to ensure Jongmyo retains its World Heritage status.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
