Seoul's plan to redevelop Jongmyo Shrine area triggers political pushback

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, left, shakes hands with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon during a meeting on balanced regional development at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's push to build a high-rise commercial complex near Jongmyo Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has emerged as a political flash point, pitting the city government against the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).

The dispute is intensifying ahead of the local elections slated for May 2026, with DPK members framing the controversy as a referendum on the mayor's governance. For the liberal party, reclaiming the capital from Oh — a member of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) — is a key objective in the upcoming elections.

The controversy deepened following a recent Supreme Court ruling that paved the way for the city to approve the Sewoon District 4 redevelopment plan, which envisions a 100-meter-tall commercial and residential complex located about 180 meters from Jongmyo. Under the plan, the height limit for nearby buildings will be raised from 55 to 101 meters.

Critics warn that the redevelopment could undermine the shrine's historical integrity, while the Seoul mayor has defended the project as a necessary step to revive a dilapidated section of Jongno District in downtown Seoul.

DPK members who are weighing a run for the Seoul mayoral seat in the upcoming elections have quickly raised their voices against Oh. Among them is Seongdong District Chief Jeong Won-oh.

"The project must proceed in a way that does not harm Jongmyo's cultural and economic value," Jeong said during a radio interview Wednesday. "If the shrine loses its World Heritage designation, it would not only damage its historical significance but also erase the immense economic value that stems from its global recognition."

A redevelopment site in Sewoon District 4 in Jongno District, central Seoul, is seen on Tuesday. Yonhap

A group of DPK lawmakers held a press conference the previous day, denouncing the mayor's plan. It was attended mainly by lawmakers viewed as potential mayoral contenders, including Reps. Jeon Hyun-heui, Seo Young-kyo and Park Ju-min.

"Preservation is the lifeline and the essence of heritage sites. High-rise concrete buildings can be built anywhere else, but not in front of Jongmyo," the lawmakers said in a statement.

Earlier on Monday, the DPK launched a task force to scrutinize what it calls Oh's policy failures and alleged corruption, appointing Rep. Chun Joon-ho as its head.

The Seoul mayor sees these moves as an attempt to turn the redevelopment dispute into a referendum on his leadership and weaken his political standing ahead of the elections. While Oh has yet to make a formal announcement, speculation is mounting that he will seek reelection for a fifth term.

"The government and the DPK has launched a full-scale campaign to attack the Seoul city government, or the so-called 'kill Oh Se-hoon' project," Oh said during a meeting with PPP members Wednesday.

Members of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea hold a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday, criticizing the Seoul city government's plan to build a high-rise commercial complex near Jongmyo Shrine. Yonhap

For the Seoul mayor, his handling of the controversial redevelopment plan could be a pivotal moment for the upcoming local elections and his political career, as his current tenure has already been marred by a series of controversies.

In September, his ambitious Hangang River Bus service was suspended less than a month after its launch due to safety concerns. Critics slammed it as a waste of taxpayer money, as it offered little practical advantage over existing subway and bus options.

The mayor's real estate policies — a sensitive topic in Seoul, where housing prices heavily influence voter sentiment — have also faced intense scrutiny.

Adding to his political woes, Oh appeared last week as a suspect in a special counsel investigation into alleged illegal campaign funds during the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election. It was his second appearance before prosecutors over his alleged ties with self-proclaimed political broker Myung Tae-kyun, following one in May.