Endured 22 Years Even After Being Hit by a Hammer.. The Sorrows of Bangudae Petroglyphs

【Financial News Ulsan=Choi Su-sang Reporter】"Gyeongju has Bulguksa, Busan has Haeundae, but what about Ulsan?"
Even though Ulsan hosted the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, the expected fame and tourist visits did not follow. Among citizens, there was talk that "there are no notable attractions, so as a tourist city, it's lacking," and "if the Bangudae Petroglyphs, designated as a national treasure, become a UNESCO World Heritage site, local pride will grow and the tourism industry will be revitalized."
The journey of the Bangudae Petroglyphs towards World Heritage listing started from this background. It took exactly 22 years until July 12, 2025, for the Bangudae Petroglyphs to be decided as a World Heritage site. During that time, the citizens of Ulsan experienced countless trials and tribulations, crossing feelings of joy, relief, and gratitude.
The full-fledged steps taken by Ulsan City, keeping in mind the UNESCO heritage listing, began in July 2003, the year after the Korea-Japan World Cup, by commissioning Seoul National University's Stone Cultural Heritage Preservation Science Research Association to study solutions for flooding. At that time, the Bangudae Petroglyphs were submerged for 5 to 8 months a year due to the water level of Sayeon Dam, causing damage.
This research led to various proposals such as adjusting the water level of Sayeon Dam, changing the water flow of Daegokcheon, installing an ecological embankment in front of the petroglyphs, dismantling Sayeon Dam, and preserving the petroglyphs in a museum after dismantling them. However, these proposals were criticized for potentially damaging the environment around the petroglyphs, which would negatively affect UNESCO's evaluation.
It also sparked a conflict between the government, which wanted to adjust the water level, and Ulsan City, which claimed a shortage of drinking water. Then, in 2013, the government and Ulsan City succeeded in agreeing to install a temporary adjustable water barrier, the so-called 'Kinetic Dam.' It was a moment when the decade-long discussion on petroglyph preservation reached a conclusion.
However, this was short-lived as a model experiment revealed dam leakage, and without finding a solution, the Kinetic Dam installation plan was scrapped after three years. During this wasted time, the damage to the Bangudae Petroglyphs accelerated.


The tedious battle between Ulsan City and the government over preservation versus drinking water continued. In frustration, some even said, "If the Bangudae Petroglyphs collapse, everything will be solved."
Meanwhile, in academia, it was belatedly claimed that during the 2003 preservation study, the rock strength of the Bangudae Petroglyphs was checked by striking 189 places with a hammer, accelerating the damage. Although the controversy ended, citizens sighed in relief, saying, "The Bangudae Petroglyphs almost truly collapsed."
Despite these twists and turns, the Bangudae Petroglyphs were selected for the World Heritage Tentative List in 2010 and were listed on the Priority Registration List in 2021, ten years later. The citizens' aspirations grew even stronger. A representative civic organization is the 'Bangudae Forum.' They held festivals and developed content to brand the Bangudae Petroglyphs. Lee Dal-hee, the former professor of Ulsan University who led this effort as the standing representative of the forum, unfortunately passed away two years ago without hearing the news of the listing.

Meanwhile, the 'Petroglyphs of Bangudae' which became the 17th UNESCO World Heritage site in Korea, consists of the 'Uljugun Cheonjeonri Inscriptions and Petroglyphs' discovered in December 1970 and the 'Uljugun Daegokri Bangudae Petroglyphs' discovered in December 1971. The Sayeon Dam, which is the cause of the flooding of the Bangudae Petroglyphs, was built earlier in 1965. The flooding that has been repeated for 60 years has been finally decided to be resolved by lowering the water level of Sayeon Dam. To this end, the installation of Sayeon Dam gates is currently underway.
ulsan@fnnews.com Choi Su-sang Reporter