[비즈한국] “Many merchants are exhausted because it’s been dragging on for so long without a conclusion. I just want a decision to be made quickly.”
Jongno-gu, Seoul, announced the 'Sewoon District 4 Urban Redevelopment Project Implementation Plan (Amendment) Authorization' on the 19th. With this, the legal effect of the authorization plan has taken hold, meaning that most of the major administrative procedures for the Sewoon District 4 redevelopment have been completed, with the exception of items like the buried heritage review by the Korea Heritage Service's advisory body, the Korea Heritage Committee. Although the redevelopment project has gained momentum, merchants on-site expressed fatigue rather than anticipation.
Sewoon District 4, visited on the 24th, looked different from the nearby redevelopment zones. While construction workers were coming and going in Districts 5-1 and 3, Sewoon District 4 remained overgrown with weeds and its gates were locked. Even though the news of the project implementation plan amendment authorization had spread, the atmosphere on the ground was defined by a weary wait rather than vitality.
“I had expectations when they first said it would be developed, but it’s been such a long time since then and nothing has changed, so I don’t even look forward to it anymore,” said A, a merchant in his 60s who sells audio equipment at Sewoon Sangga. B, who runs an electronics parts shop, also added, “Even though it was authorized this time, it doesn't feel like the redevelopment will actually move forward. It’s just unfortunate that the redevelopment issue has become tied up in political fighting.”
Although the project has gained momentum due to Jongno-gu's authorization, it remains unclear whether the project will proceed smoothly. The Korea Heritage Service previously ordered the project executor, Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation (SH), to conduct a World Heritage Impact Assessment and to revise and adjust the project plan based on the results. It also issued an order to the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Jongno-gu to proceed with the authorization process for the implementation plan (amendment) only after completing the assessment procedures. SH is currently filing an administrative lawsuit to cancel that order.
The Korea Heritage Service is considering its response to Jongno-gu's authorization decision. An official from the Korea Heritage Service stated, “We believe Jongno-gu’s authorization should be canceled, and we are considering how to respond.” They added, “If the Seoul Metropolitan Government is willing to undergo a World Heritage Impact Assessment, we will support and cooperate.”
The fact that the project authorization was decided during the transition period of the district mayor is also a point of controversy. The side of Yoo Chan-jong, the mayor-elect of Jongno-gu (Democratic Party of Korea), requested that major authorization and permit procedures, including those for Sewoon District 4, be withheld until after his inauguration. However, incumbent Jongno-gu Mayor Chung Moon-hun (People Power Party) authorized the amendment to the project implementation plan just before the end of his term. A Seoul city official said, “I am aware that there was talk about the mayor-elect’s side potentially taking issue with the process of this authorization.” If the maintenance of the authorization becomes a point of contention again after the new mayor takes office, the project could become embroiled in further legal and administrative disputes.
The controversy over Sewoon District 4 involves both the necessity for development and the demand for cultural heritage preservation. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and those pushing for the project cite the need to improve a deteriorated city center and normalize the business, while the Korea Heritage Service believes the impact on the World Heritage site Jongmyo must be considered first. On top of this, the controversy over the authorization during the mayor’s transition period has been added to the mix.
The longer the conflict continues, the more the burden falls on the local merchants and tenants. Their business plans and relocation discussions are inevitably tied to whether the project proceeds or stalls again. Ultimately, voices are calling for the key task of the Sewoon District 4 redevelopment to be finding a solution that reduces the uncertainty for merchants and tenants who have kept their businesses running through a long wait, alongside the public values of historical/cultural preservation and urban renewal.
Experts point out that a structure for discussion involving the project lead, merchants, and relevant agencies must be established first. Shin Bo-yeon, a professor at Sejong University's Department of Real Estate AI Convergence, advised, “It is necessary to form a consultative body involving merchants, the project executor, and relevant agencies to coordinate opinions. Even if it seems time-consuming at first, when looking at the overall project timeline, it could be a way to reduce conflict and proceed more quickly.”