Government to Reassess Scope of 'Historical and Cultural Environment Preservation Areas'

Regulatory Total Volume Likely to Decrease Significantly... Increased Autonomy for Local Governments
Regulations and Procedures Related to Buried Cultural Assets Also Improved... Distribution Map to Be Prepared

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The government is reconsidering the scope of the 'Historical and Cultural Environment Preservation Areas.'

On the 9th, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced a plan to improve cultural heritage regulations at the 2nd Regulatory Innovation Strategy Meeting chaired by the Prime Minister. The plan includes rational adjustments to the regulations on activities within the Historical and Cultural Environment Preservation Areas. These areas are zones established to protect designated cultural properties. Within 500 meters from the outer boundary of the cultural property, the mayor or governor of the city or province, in consultation with the head of the Cultural Heritage Administration, sets the regulations through ordinances. However, some cultural properties have had their preservation area uniformly set to 500 meters without distinction of usage. Since separate approval from the Cultural Heritage Administration was required for construction activities within these zones, there have been calls for improvements.

The Cultural Heritage Administration will review the scope of 1,665 Historical and Cultural Environment Preservation Areas based on metropolitan city and provincial ordinances by 2025. Currently, except for Seoul and Jeju, most areas are designated as 200 meters for residential, commercial, and industrial zones, and 500 meters for green zones. After the review, the total amount of regulation could be significantly reduced. The Cultural Heritage Administration will also minimize individual review zones that required approval within the regulatory areas. It will increase the autonomy of local governments to make their own judgments, thereby reducing the intensity of regulations. By establishing a digital system, the costs and duration caused by regulations will also be shortened. An official explained, "We plan to establish a platform by 2026 that allows previewing regulatory outcomes through three-dimensional (3D) models and to build a 'one-stop' system that streamlines surface surveys and various consultations."

Regulations and various procedures related to buried cultural properties will also be improved. Currently, for development projects larger than 30,000 square meters, surface surveys must be conducted at the developer's expense. In the future, local governments will be able to quickly determine whether excavation surveys are necessary by utilizing a 'Buried Cultural Properties Distribution Map.' The Cultural Heritage Administration is prioritizing this work in urban areas where development is active. Approximately 49 billion KRW will be invested to build a map covering 20% of the entire national territory by 2025. An official stated, "Once the map is prepared, the surface survey procedure before starting development projects can be shortened by 40 to 50 days."