Korean relics added to World Heritage list

The Kyongju historical remains sites and the dolman relics in Gochang, Hwasoon and Kwanghwa have made the World Heritage List by UNESCO.

The decision was made by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (WHC), which is holding a general meeting in Australia. Including the dolmen, Korea now has seven such artifacts and remains on the list including Sokguram Grotto, Jangkyong-panjon (depositories for those wood blocks) at Haeinsa temple in Kyongsangnam-do province, Chongmyo Shrine and Changdokgung Palace in Seoul, and the Hwasong Fortress in Suwon and Pulkuksa temple.

Six areas of the Kyongju historical remain site were included such as the Wolsong site with Chomsongdae, the Hwangnyongsa Temple Site with the nine-story stone pagoda in Punhwangsa Temple and the Namsan site. For the sites with the dolmen, the Maesan Village in Kochang area of Chonbuk Province, the Hyosan-ri area of Chonnam Province and an area in Kanghwa, Inchon, were included.

Jeong-Hoon Yun digana@donga.com