Jongmyo Redevelopment Faces Scrutiny as Heritage Chief Urges Impact Review

Huh Min, head of South Korea’s national heritage agency, said redevelopment in front of Seoul’s Jongmyo, a UNESCO World Heritage site, requires a World Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) to consider preservation value and the surrounding landscape. The issue has drawn attention over whether the project’s potential impact on the heritage site should be reviewed in advance. Huh said additional measures could be taken if the project is pushed ahead without an impact assessment. Jongmyo is one of Seoul’s major UNESCO World Heritage sites, making the balance between heritage protection and urban redevelopment a central issue. Source: yna.co.kr