Jongmyo World Heritage Cancellation Crisis, the Truth Behind the Sewoon Shopping Center Redevelopment Project and UNESCO's Warning

Located in the heart of Seoul, Jongmyo is a UNESCO World Heritage site that embodies the spirit of the Joseon Dynasty's 500 years. Designated as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1995, Jongmyo is a shrine that houses the spirits of the kings and queens of the Joseon royal family, representing Korea's historical and cultural assets.

However, recently, the redevelopment project of the Sewoon Shopping Center near Jongmyo has led to a direct conflict between the values of development and preservation. The aging Sewoon Shopping Center has consistently raised the need for redevelopment due to fire hazards and functional decline, but concerns are growing that the construction of high-rise buildings could damage the view of Jongmyo.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon emphasized that development and preservation can go hand in hand and expressed his intention to promote the redevelopment of Jongmyo. However, civic groups and experts concerned about the preservation of Jongmyo's landscape point out that indiscriminate urban planning threatens the protection of cultural heritage.

UNESCO's Warning, Preservation Status Review to Begin in July 2026

According to a report on November 14, 2025, UNESCO has begun reviewing the preservation status related to the development issue in front of Jongmyo, set to start in July 2026. This is a significant situation that could lead to the cancellation of its World Heritage status.

In fact, the Elbe Valley in Dresden, Germany lost its World Heritage status in 2009 due to the construction of a bridge that crossed the landscape. Concerns are being raised that the Jongmyo development controversy could follow a similar path.

The international community emphasizes that Jongmyo is not just a cultural asset of Korea, but a World Heritage site that should be preserved by all humanity. The cancellation of its World Heritage status could also deal a fatal blow to the country's image.

At the core of the conflict surrounding the Jongmyo redevelopment project lies the inadequacy of the heritage impact assessment system. The Seoul city government pointed out the institutional gap, stating that the Cultural Heritage Administration acknowledged its own shortcomings in evaluation requirements. The heritage impact assessment is a system that evaluates the impact of development projects on cultural properties in advance, serving as a key mechanism for the protection of cultural heritage.

The Cultural Heritage Administration must establish a transparent and objective evaluation system to find a point of intersection between development and preservation. Since the Seoul city government has also stated its commitment to maintaining Jongmyo's preservation status in line with international standards, cooperation between the two institutions is essential.

Voices of Merchants, Conflict Between Safety and Survival

According to on-site coverage on November 14, 2025, merchants at Sewoon Shopping Center are conflicted between the anxiety of being pushed out for a small amount of money and the pressing need for redevelopment due to serious fire hazards.

While suffering from safety issues in an aging environment, the fear of losing their homes during the redevelopment process is a real concern. There is a need for a redevelopment approach that secures modern convenience and safety while respecting the historical context through harmonious architectural design, appropriate height regulations, and urban regeneration methods that align with Jongmyo.

Lee Joon, a direct descendant of Jongmyo, appealed for Jongmyo not to be used for political strife, emphasizing that it is a shrine for our ancestors, the Korean people. Jongmyo is a space that embodies our roots and identity, not the property of a specific group.

The controversy over the Jongmyo World Heritage and the Sewoon Shopping Center redevelopment goes beyond a simple real estate development issue. The Seoul city government must prioritize the preservation of Jongmyo's landscape while also meeting the practical demands for urban functionality improvement. This signifies the need for a creative regeneration approach rather than destructive development.

With the UNESCO preservation status review approaching in July 2026, there is a demand for concrete and innovative solutions that respond to the international community's requests. When Jongmyo shows itself as a living tradition in harmony with the modern city, rather than a preserved past, a model of coexistence between cultural heritage protection and urban development can be achieved.