Seoul City Council criticizes National Heritage Administration over Sewoon District 4 delays

The People Power Party in the Seoul Metropolitan Council has criticized the National Heritage Administration for repeatedly postponing deliberations regarding the preservation of buried cultural heritage in the Sewoon District 4 redevelopment area.

According to council spokesperson Choi Won-sun, the deliberation has been postponed four times since January 2024, with three consecutive delays occurring since August of this year. The council expressed frustration over shifting preservation standards, noting that the administration previously considered “relocation preservation” but has recently pivoted to a principle of “in-situ preservation.”

Sewoon District 4, located in Yeji-dong, Jongno-gu, is a large-scale urban redevelopment project covering approximately 32,000 square meters. The council argued that these delays are causing significant financial burdens and infringing upon the property rights of local residents, who have been waiting for progress since the area was designated for redevelopment in 2004. The council has pledged to review legislative measures to protect the interests of residents and citizens.