World Heritage Status Can Be Revoked
The Key Is Preserving Universal Heritage Value
Liverpool Lost Its Status After Ignoring Recommendations
London Maintained Its Status Through Protective Measures
As the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to permit the construction of high-rise buildings near Jongmyo, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, concerns have been raised that redevelopment could damage the view of Jongmyo. In fact, some European cities have had their World Heritage status revoked due to indiscriminate redevelopment projects. However, it cannot be definitively stated that Jongmyo’s heritage status is threatened solely by the presence of high-rise buildings. This is because UNESCO’s heritage evaluation criteria focus on the preservation of intrinsic value, not just the landscape.
Cultural Heritage Sites Delisted Due to Excessive Redevelopment
Previously, on October 30, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced the “Sewoon Redevelopment Promotion District and District 4 Redevelopment Promotion Plan.” The core of the plan is to increase the maximum building height in Sewoon District 4, Jongno, from the original 55 meters along Jongno and 71.9 meters along Cheonggyecheon to 101 meters along Jongno and 145 meters along Cheonggyecheon. As a result, buildings up to 145 meters tall could potentially be constructed near Jongmyo.
On the 7th, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is overlooking the site of Sewoon District 4 from the rooftop garden of Sewoon Shopping Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Seoul City
However, some have expressed concerns that the redevelopment project could damage the view of Jongmyo. On November 7, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young stated, “Jongmyo is a sacred heritage site housing the ancestral tablets of the Joseon royal family and is a symbol of Korea’s first UNESCO World Heritage site,” adding, “The current situation, in which such value could be damaged, is deeply concerning.” He went on to say, “We will amend relevant laws and special acts, such as the Act on the Preservation and Utilization of Cultural Heritage.”
In practice, UNESCO may revoke heritage status after review if the value of a heritage site is compromised. The most recent site to lose its heritage status was the Maritime Mercantile City of Liverpool in the United Kingdom. This area was recognized as a heritage site for preserving docks and ports from the 18th and 19th centuries during the British Empire, but its status was revoked in 2021. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee (WHC) explained that the reason for delisting was that “the attributes conveying outstanding universal value have been irreversibly lost” due to the construction of high-rise buildings and stadiums in Liverpool since the early 2010s.
The former appearance (above) near Liverpool Port, designated as a World Cultural Heritage site, and the current state undergoing redevelopment. Screenshot from UNESCO website
The Arabian Oryx Sanctuary in Oman, home to the critically endangered Arabian oryx, was also granted World Heritage status in 1994 but was delisted in 2007. This was because the Omani government reduced the size of the sanctuary by 90 percent to develop natural resources such as oil, resulting in the loss of its value. In 2009, the Dresden Elbe Valley in Germany was removed from the heritage list due to the construction of a bridge.
'Protective Measures' Are Key to Preserving Heritage Value
However, not all redevelopment projects lead to the delisting of heritage sites. Westminster Abbey in London, the capital of the United Kingdom, has maintained its heritage status since 1987. Despite the presence of densely packed high-rise buildings 200 to 300 meters tall just 1 to 2 kilometers away, its value continues to be recognized.
The reason for UNESCO’s differing judgments lies in its criteria for evaluating heritage sites. UNESCO assesses heritage based on indicators such as outstanding universal value, authenticity and integrity, and future protection and management plans. Before constructing high-rise buildings near Westminster Abbey, the London city authorities consulted with UNESCO and added relevant guidelines to London’s construction regulations, such as “ensuring that the landscape and outstanding value of heritage sites are not negatively affected by development.”
Although high-rise buildings hundreds of meters tall have been constructed near Westminster Abbey, it has been recognized that the value was maintained by pursuing a landscape that harmonizes with the cultural heritage. Official website of Westminster Abbey
In contrast, Liverpool, which lost its heritage status in 2021, was found to have lacked sufficient cooperation with UNESCO during its redevelopment process. In the “Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City Decision” report, UNESCO stated, “We have repeatedly requested measures to protect the heritage value in relation to Liverpool’s urban development,” and explained that “due to indiscriminate management and supervision of development around the heritage site and regulatory issues, the site’s universal value was severely damaged and irreversibly lost,” which led to its removal from the list.
Ultimately, whether Jongmyo retains its heritage status depends on how well its value is protected during the redevelopment process. In this regard, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon stated at a briefing on November 7, “Claims that (redevelopment) could damage Jongmyo’s value are excessively overstated. On the contrary, we will enhance Jongmyo’s value. By creating a green axis connecting Namsan to Jongno, we will improve ecological access to Jongmyo, thereby increasing its historical and heritage value.”
Mayor Oh emphasized, “As long as discussions continue through dialogue, it is entirely possible to achieve both urban spatial innovation and respect for cultural heritage. While Jongmyo is at the heart of Seoul, it has long been neglected, and now is the time to seek new changes where history and the future coexist.”
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