Ulsan Petroglyphs Become World Heritage After 15 Years... 6000 Years of History 'Emotion'

[Financial News] The prehistoric rock carvings located in Bangudae, Ulsan, have been confirmed for inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, increasing the number of world heritage sites owned by Korea to 17.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee announced on the 12th (local time) at its 47th session held at its headquarters in Paris, France, that it has decided to include the 'Petroglyphs of Bangudae' in the World Heritage List.

The Bangudae petroglyphs inscribed this time consist of two relics: the 'Bangudae Petroglyphs in Daegok-ri, Ulsan' and the 'Cheonjeon-ri Inscriptions and Petroglyphs in Ulsan'. They have been evaluated as unique evidence proving the petroglyph tradition that continued for 6000 years since prehistoric times.

The World Heritage Committee stated, "The realistic expression and original composition created with outstanding observational skills demonstrate the artistic capabilities of the inhabitants of the Korean Peninsula," adding that it is "a masterpiece created by the creativity of prehistoric people."

Discovered in 1971, the Bangudae Petroglyphs in Daegok-ri are located on the cliffs of Bangudae, a tributary of the upper reaches of the Taehwa River. The rock surface, 4.5m high and 8m wide, is densely carved with marine and terrestrial animals and hunting scenes.

The Ulsan Bangudae Petroglyphs World Heritage Promotion Team announced that a total of 312 drawings were confirmed in the drawing book published in 2023 based on 3D scans and actual measurement data.

It is especially famous for being the world's oldest whaling depiction. It vividly portrays mother and calf whales, harpooned whales, and diving whales from a sea-view perspective, with more than 50 whales depicted.

The Cheonjeon-ri Inscriptions and Petroglyphs are located about 2km away from Daegok-ri. Discovered in 1970, the rock surface, 2.7m high and 10m wide, is engraved with over 620 various patterns, characters, and drawings.

Abstract patterns such as diamonds and circles, believed to have been made during the Bronze Age, stand out. There are also inscriptions presumed to have been left during the reign of King Beopheung of Silla (r. 514–540), recognized as key materials for studying 6th-century Silla society.

The Cultural Heritage Administration evaluated it as "a heritage that condenses the aesthetic expressions and cultural transitions of the southeastern coastal residents of the Korean Peninsula from the Neolithic to the Silla period."

However, the process of World Heritage inscription was not smooth. The Bangudae Petroglyphs in Daegok-ri have been repeatedly submerged and exposed for decades due to the Sayeon Dam, constructed in 1965. When the dam's water level exceeds 53m, the petroglyphs are submerged, and they have remained submerged for an average of over 40 days annually over the past decade.

After being listed on the UNESCO tentative list in 2010, it took 15 years to become a formal World Heritage Site. Various preservation measures, such as adjusting the dam's water level, installing temporary embankments, and water barriers, were reviewed, but no clear solution was found.

In response, the World Heritage Committee recommended to the Korean government to "report the progress of the Sayeon Dam construction to the World Heritage Center" along with the inscription decision. Additionally, it added that "the effective operation of the Bangudae World Petroglyph Center must be ensured, and major development plans affecting the heritage must be notified."

Currently, a plan to lower the water level through the installation of spillway gates at the Sayeon Dam is underway, and the Cultural Heritage Administration and Ulsan City plan to proceed with the project while sharing future construction status with UNESCO.

With the inscription of the Bangudae Petroglyphs, Korea has secured a total of 17 World Heritage Sites, including 15 cultural heritages and 2 natural heritages, following the inscription of Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple, Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, and Jongmyo Shrine in 1995.

Choi Eung-cheon, Director of the Cultural Heritage Administration, said, "It was a long and arduous journey to World Heritage inscription," adding, "We will make every effort to protect and preserve the value of the Bangudae Petroglyphs as a shared heritage of humanity." 




ahnman@fnnews.com Ahn Seung-hyun, Choi Soo-sang Reporter