UNESCO Designates Ulsan's 'Bangudae Petroglyphs' as World Heritage.. 17th in Korea

[Financial News] The Bangudae Petroglyphs located in Ulsan Metropolitan City, Ulju County, have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.  It has borne fruit 15 years after being listed on the World Heritage Tentative List in 2010. With this, South Korea now possesses a total of 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites (15 cultural and 2 natural heritage sites).
The 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, currently being held in Paris, France, decided on the 12th (local time) to finally list the Bangudae Petroglyphs as a World Heritage site. The Bangudae Petroglyphs, listed as a World Heritage site, are a single heritage that includes the national treasure 'Ulsan Daegok-ri Bangudae Petroglyphs' and 'Ulsan Cheonjeon-ri Inscriptions and Petroglyphs'.
The World Heritage Committee evaluated the Bangudae Petroglyphs as showing the artistry of the people who lived on the Korean Peninsula through realistic drawings and unique compositions based on outstanding observational skills. It was also selected as a masterpiece that creatively depicts the rare theme of various whales and key stages of whaling by prehistoric people. It is considered unique evidence proving the tradition of petroglyphs that continued for about 6,000 years since prehistoric times, and it comprehensively shows the cultural development of people in the southeastern coastal region of the Korean Peninsula.
The World Heritage Committee, along with the inscription decision, recommended reporting the progress of the Sayeon Dam construction to the World Heritage Center and ensuring the effective operation of the Bangudae World Petroglyph Center. It also requested that the role of local communities and residents be formalized in the management system and that the World Heritage Center be informed of all major development plans that could affect the 'Outstanding Universal Value' (OUV) of the heritage.
This inscription of the Bangudae Petroglyphs as a World Heritage site is a valuable result achieved through the combined efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Heritage Administration, the Permanent Delegation of Korea to UNESCO, and the local government.
The National Heritage Administration plans to continue policy efforts for coexistence with the local community through active administration that maintains close cooperation with local governments and residents while faithfully preserving the value of the Bangudae Petroglyphs as a World Heritage site.



rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter