Seoul Court Suspends Building Permit in Hannam-dong Han River View Dispute

The Seoul Administrative Court has temporarily suspended the building permit for a residence being constructed for Meritz Financial Group Chairman Jo Jung-ho in Hannam-dong, Seoul. The decision grants interim temporary relief to Booyoung Group Chairman Lee Joong-geun, who alleges that a new house obstructs his Han River view and that a permit was unlawfully issued.

Court Grants Temporary Suspension

On October 12, 2026, the Seoul Administrative Court’s Administrative Division 3 granted Lee’s application to suspend a building permit. Lee brought the proceedings against the Yongsan District Office, which issued the permit. Jo joined the case as an intervenor supporting the district office.

The court found, in the case, an urgent need to prevent harm to Lee that would be difficult to remedy and concluded that suspending the permit was unlikely to significantly harm the public interest. The court declined, however, to suspend a separate administrative decision to remove the land’s designated public use before sale. The court found insufficient evidence of an urgent need for interim relief.

Separate Construction Injunction Remains on Appeal

The administrative ruling follows Lee’s unsuccessful attempt to obtain a civil injunction directly against Jo to halt construction. Lee filed that application with the Seoul Western District Court on May 14, 2026, alleging interference with his Han River view. The court rejected the application in July. Lee appealed, and the Seoul High Court is now hearing the case.

In rejecting the civil application, the lower court acknowledged that the new house could restrict part of Lee’s view. It nevertheless concluded that an order stopping construction was unwarranted, taking into account changes that can occur in the surrounding area and Jo’s right to use his property. The administrative challenge to the permit and the civil application to halt construction remain separate proceedings.

Earlier Dispute Involving Shinsegae’s Lee Myung-hee

Lee previously pursued a similar dispute in 2009 against Shinsegae Group Chairwoman Lee Myung-hee over a house being built on nearby land. In that case, the court granted his application to halt construction because the house interfered with his view. The dispute was later resolved after the building plans were revised to lower the house’s height.

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