Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon expressed regret Friday for what he called “unilateral disparagement” of the city’s redevelopment plans near the UNESCO-listed Jongmyo Shrine by the Culture Ministry and the Korea Heritage Service.

Speaking at Sewoon Plaza across from Jongmyo, Oh said concerns that the project would damage the shrine’s value were “excessive,” arguing that new green corridors from Namsan to Jongno would instead enhance the site’s cultural significance.

He emphasized that the area had long been neglected and described the project as an opportunity to revitalize central Seoul by creating a large urban park.

Oh accused the two agencies of using “emotional and baseless language” and urged them to join talks rather than politicize the issue, proposing an early dialogue between central and local authorities.

Culture Minister Chea Hwi-young earlier visited Jongmyo and vowed to block the plan, characterizing Seoul’s approach as “reckless development reminiscent of the 1970s.”

Under the revised plan, maximum building heights in the Sewoon Zone 4 were raised to nearly 99 meters along Jongno and 142 meters along Cheonggye Stream — a key point of contention between the city and heritage authorities.