UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany voiced deep concern over Seoul's high-rise development plan near Jongmyo Shrine during a meeting with Korea Heritage Service director Huh Min in Paris. He urged a promise not to build high-rises until a heritage impact assessment is complete. The two also discussed preparations for the upcoming UNESCO World Heritage Committee session in Busan.
On November 27, 2025, in Paris, UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany met with Huh Min, director of the Korea Heritage Service (KHS), and expressed deep concern over Seoul's high-rise development plan near Jongmyo Shrine. Huh told reporters, "He brought up the issue and expressed deep concern over the plan." He added, "He asked us to promise not to build high-rises until a heritage impact assessment is complete."
Previously, UNESCO's World Heritage Center had sent an official letter to the city advising a Heritage Impact Assessment before any construction, warning that the plan could threaten the integrity of the historic complex. Jongmyo Shrine is a sacred site enshrining the ancestral tablets of the Joseon Dynasty royal family (1392-1910) and holds symbolic significance as one of Korea's first UNESCO World Heritage sites, designated in 1995.
Huh explained the South Korean government's efforts to preserve Jongmyo's World Heritage status, and El-Enany pledged his support. The two also discussed preparations for the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled for July 2026 in the southeastern city of Busan. Around 3,000 participants, including delegations from 196 signatory states, international organizations, and NGOs, are expected to attend. According to Huh, El-Enany expressed high expectations for Korea's first time hosting a UNESCO meeting and conveyed his full support for the preparations.
This exchange highlights international attention to protecting Jongmyo's cultural value amid tensions between development and preservation.