Supreme Court OKs ordinance allowing development projects outside cultural preservation sites in Seoul
A file photo of Jongmyo Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site in central Seoul / Yonhap
The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in favor of a controversial legal ordinance that allows development projects outside cultural preservation sites in Seoul.
The ruling confirmed the validity of a revised ordinance passed by the Seoul Metropolitan Council in September 2023 to allow construction 100 meters beyond the outer limits of national heritage sites.
The culture minister had brought the case to court, arguing the ordinance should be nullified as the council passed it without following a requirement in the law to consult the head of the state Korea Heritage Service before making a revision.
The top court ruled, however, that the law does not require the council to hold consultations before passing an ordinance governing construction outside of preservation sites.