The Clash Over High-Rise Construction in Seoul
The ongoing conflict between the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the central government over the development of high-rise buildings in the “Sewoon District 4” area near Jongmyo Shrine has escalated, drawing the attention of Prime Minister Kim Min-seok. On the 10th, Prime Minister Kim visited Jongmyo Shrine alongside individuals who oppose the construction of high-rises and expressed his concerns, stating, “This is not a matter that the Seoul Metropolitan Government can unilaterally push through.”
In response to this, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon proposed an open debate on which side—either the government or the Seoul Metropolitan Government—is being short-sighted. Given that the Seoul mayoral election is seen as a key battleground for next year’s June 3 local elections, political analysts believe that this confrontation signals the beginning of a broader clash between the ruling and opposition parties.
Sewoon Plaza High-Density Redevelopment Debate
The Seoul Metropolitan Government recently announced plans to redevelop the Sewoon District 4 area, which involves demolishing the 58-year-old Sewoon Plaza and constructing high-rise buildings up to 141.9 meters, along with a nearby park. This marks a significant change from the previous height restriction of 71.9 meters. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism had previously filed a lawsuit against the Seoul City Council’s decision to relax regulations around cultural heritage sites. However, the Supreme Court ruled on the 6th that the ordinance revision was lawful.
Despite the court’s decision, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Heritage Service took action on the 7th. Minister Choi Hwi-young and Director Heo Min visited Jongmyo Shrine and warned that the high-rises would harm the shrine’s landscape, vowing to use all available means to stop the project. Meanwhile, Mayor Oh held a briefing in the Sewoon District 4 area, emphasizing the need to preserve and enhance the value of Jongmyo Shrine by creating green corridors and reforming the urban spatial structure.
Prime Minister Kim also visited Jongmyo Shrine on the 10th and publicly criticized the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s policy. He expressed concern that high-rises constructed in front of the shrine could block the view, make it hard to breathe, and suppress its energy. On the same day, he posted on Facebook, criticizing the city’s policy decisions and urging the Seoul Metropolitan Government to listen more carefully to public concerns.
Democratic Party Launches ‘Mayor Oh Verification Task Force’
Political circles suggest that the Democratic Party is attempting to scrutinize Mayor Oh ahead of next year’s June 3 local elections. Both the ruling and opposition parties are already preparing for the upcoming elections. Local elections following presidential elections have often favored the ruling party, but the People Power Party believes they have a strong chance of retaining the Seoul mayor’s office due to recent real estate policies and conservative alliances.
The Democratic Party has accepted Mayor Oh’s candidacy for the local elections and launched a task force to investigate his policy failures and personal corruption. Prime Minister Kim has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the Seoul mayoral race. If an open debate between Kim and Oh occurs, it could help Kim consolidate support. However, on the 5th, Kim stated on YouTube that he does not believe such a situation will arise.
Within and outside the Seoul Metropolitan Government, there are concerns that the Sewoon District 4 development will face challenges, given the Prime Minister’s public opposition. A source from the opposition bloc noted that if the plan to develop the old downtown Seoul with high density is derailed, it remains to be seen how public sentiment in Seoul will react.