Oh Sehoon: "Double Standards in Sewoon District and Taereung CC Development, President Must Clarify Criteria"

Posted on Facebook
Criticizes "government actions as inconsistent and a double standard"

Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon criticized the government for being inconsistent, pointing out that it opposes the redevelopment of the Sewoon District in Jongno for cultural heritage protection while simultaneously pushing to supply housing at Taereung Golf Course (Taereung Country Club) in Nowon-gu.

On the 1st, Mayor Oh posted a message on Facebook titled "Are the National Heritage Administration and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Governments of Different Countries?" He stated, "If the same standards that the National Heritage Administration applies to the Sewoon District are applied to Taereung Country Club, there cannot be two different conclusions."

Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon is visiting the electronics market in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 22nd, inspecting the site. 2026.01.22 Photo by Dongju Yoon

The National Heritage Administration previously opposed plans for high-rise buildings in the Sewoon District near Jongmyo, a UNESCO World Heritage site, citing concerns about damaging the view from Jongmyo. However, there have been criticisms that the government is applying a double standard by including Taereung Country Club, which is near the Taereung and Gangneung UNESCO World Heritage sites, in the "January 29 Greater Seoul Housing Supply Plan."

Mayor Oh emphasized, "Thirteen percent of Taereung Country Club is directly within a historical and cultural preservation area, while the Sewoon District lies outside that boundary. If redevelopment is not allowed in the Sewoon District, it should be even less permissible at Taereung Country Club. Conversely, if it is possible at Taereung Country Club, then it should also be possible at the Sewoon District." He added, "Nevertheless, the National Heritage Administration opposes the Sewoon District's redevelopment, which is far from the preservation area, but does not clearly oppose Taereung Country Club, which is clearly within the impact area of a World Heritage site."

He continued, "The actions of the President and this government are truly inconsistent and a double standard. Unless these two ministries are governments of different countries, how can the National Heritage Administration and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport reach different conclusions?"

Mayor Oh also said, "There cannot be pro-Lee Jaemyung or anti-Lee Jaemyung stances when it comes to cultural heritage," urging, "I hope the President will take this opportunity to clearly define the standards of this government."