Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young speaks during an interview with Yonhap News Agency held at his office in the central city of Sejong on Nov. 10, 2025. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 17 (Korea Bizwire) – Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young has said the government will deploy every measure permitted under law to block plans for ultra-high-rise buildings facing Jongmyo Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site in central Seoul.
The project has drawn controversy because Jongmyo, a 14th-century royal ancestral shrine from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), is regarded as one of Korea’s most important cultural heritage sites.
Chae first stated the position during a visit to the shrine on Nov. 7, a day after the Supreme Court upheld the Seoul metropolitan council’s revision of an ordinance that effectively opened the door for taller construction near the historic royal shrine.
The ruling comes as the Seoul city government pushes ahead with a redevelopment plan that would allow buildings up to 145 meters high — more than twice the previous height limit — in an area directly across from Jongmyo.
This photo, taken on November 11, shows Jongmyo Shrine in central Seoul, surrounded by tall buildings that appear to encroach on the historic site’s skyline. Landowners in Seoul’s Sewoon District 4, near the UNESCO World Heritage site Jongmyo Shrine, have pushed back against the Korea Heritage Service’s objection to the area’s redevelopment project, warning of potential legal action. The group said it would hold the agency accountable if its stance made redevelopment “impossible,” citing possible claims of administrative misconduct, damages, and abuse of authority. (Yonhap)
“The key take-away from the ruling is that cultural heritage can still be protected under existing laws,” Chae said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency held last Monday at his office in the central city of Sejong marking his first 100 days in office, followed by additional written comments. “The Korea Heritage Service will continue to take lawful administrative measures as prescribed by the law.”
Chae noted that the court also confirmed the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) retains the authority to take various administrative steps under the Cultural Heritage Act, even without the ordinance.
He said the KHS’ designation Thursday of a broad area around Jongmyo as a “world heritage zone” under domestic law could be seen as one such measure.
Following the designation, the agency plans to formally ask the Seoul city government to conduct a World Heritage Impact Assessment, a review used to determine whether construction or urban-planning projects may threaten the site’s cultural value.
Responding to Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s argument that the redevelopment would enhance the shrine’s surroundings by creating a 100-meter-wide green space, Chae said authorities “must find a balanced path between protection and progress.”
“If the development plan is truly for Jongmyo, the Seoul city government should receive a World Heritage Impact Assessment from experts,” he said.
Chae added that “what matters now is finding a wise solution acceptable to all,” urging the city to temporarily pause the project and seek broader public consultation.
(Yonhap)
