Korea's World Heritage Sites

Bearing the designation as a World Heritage Site is reason enough for a particular site to attract both local and foreign tourist to come and visit the area. These sites offer visitors a chance to be amazed at the magnificence of the structures while giving the local residents a source of pride with their care and effort in preserving their heritage which they can share with the rest of the world.

There are three types of World Heritage sites which the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognizes, cultural, natural and mixed. Cultural heritage sites are masterpiece of creative genius; have exerted great architectural influence; be associated with ideas or beliefs of universal significance; or it may be an outstanding example of a traditional way of life that represents a certain culture. Natural heritage sites on the other hand may exemplify major stages of the earth’s history; represent significant ongoing ecological and biological processes; contain the natural habitats of threatened species; or it may be a setting of exceptional beauty.

According to the UNESCO, there are 890 properties in the World heritage List which forms part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having “outstanding universal value”

Of the 890 properties in the list, 689 are cultural, 176 natural and 25 are mixed properties. These properties are located in 148 state properties.

But what exactly is a World Heritage site and how are they selected?

To begin with, I think it is important to note that it was only in 1972 that the World Heritage Convention established the World Heritage List which attempts to identify, protect and preserve some of the world’s greatest cultural and natural sites considered to be of outstanding value.

To be included on the elite World Heritage, aside from being of outstanding universal value, a site must meet at least one of the ten criteria set forth by the World Heritage Committee. The first six (6) criteria relate to cultural sites, while the remaining four (4) relate to natural sites. The following are the criteria:

i. “to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius”;

ii. “to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design”;

iii. “to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared”;

iv. “to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history”;

v. “to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change”;

vi. “to directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic literary works of outstanding universal significance.

vii. “to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance”;

viii. “to be outstanding examples representing major stages of Earth’s history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features”;

ix. “to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals”;

x. “to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.” [source: UNESCO]

Having mentioned all of these, it is now time to present the properties of South Korea inscribed in the World Heritage List.

Changdeokgung Palace Complex














Also known as Changdeok Palace, Changdeokgung Palace which literally means the “Palace of Prospering Virtue” is located in the nation’s capital, Seoul. Built in 1405, it is one of the Five Grand Palaces built during the Joseon Dynasty. Considered as the most Korean of all the palaces, it covers a total area of 58 hectares and it was built pleasingly blending with the surrounding landscape and with minimum effect on the natural environment. It was inscribed in the World Heritage List in 1997 and according to UNESCO, the palace compound is an “outstanding example of Far Eastern palace architecture and garden design, exceptional for the way in which the buildings are integrated into and harmonized with the natural setting, adapting to the topography and retaining indigenous tree cover.” This cultural property meets criteria numbers ii, iii, and iv.

Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites

Dolmens are stone tomb markers from the 1st millennium BC constructed of large stone slabs. The largest concentration of dolmen in the world are found in Maeshan Village in Gochang, Jeolllanbukdo Province; Hwasun, Jeollanam-do Province; and on the foot of Mt. Goryeosan in Ganghwa, Incheon. Included in the World Heritage List in 2000, the Dolmen in these areas meets criterion iii. UNESCO considers these sites as the most vivid illustration of a “global prehistoric technological and social phenomenon that resulted in the appearance in the 2nd and 3rd millennia BCE of funerary and ritual monuments constructed of large stones (the “Megalithic Culture”).”

Gyeongju Historic Areas


Inscribed in the World Heritage List in 2000, on the basis of criteria ii and iii. The historic areas include temple and palace ruins, royal tumuli, pagodas and Buddhist art and statuary dating between the 7th and 10th centuries. Because of these historic areas, Gyeongju is referred to as the living museum of Korea.



Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, the Depositories of the Triptaka Koreana Woodblocks

The Temple of Haeinsa, on Mount Kaya in South Gyeongsang Province, houses the Triptaka Koreana, the world’s most complete collection of Buddhist scriptures in Chinese script carved onto 81,258 wooden printing blocks in the 13th century. Each block is made of birch wood and was treated in seawater to prevent decay. The storage halls are known as Janggyeong Panjeon complex. The property was included in the World Heritage List in 1995 and meets criteria iv and vi.


Hwaseong Fortress

Located in Suwon, one of the principal cities of Gyeonggi-do Province, this massive eighteenth century military fortifications complete with towers and gates was built by the Joseon emperor Jeongjo to honor his deceased father, Sado Seja. Inscribed in the World Heritage List in 1997 on the basis of criteria ii and iii, UNESCO considers the property “an outstanding example of early modern military architecture, incorporating the most highly developed features of that science from both east and west.”

Jongmyo Shrine

The Jongmyo Shrine earned its spot in the World Heritage List in 1995, located in Seoul, it is the oldest and most authentic Confucian royal shrines to have been preserved. The shrine in its present form dates back from the 16th century after the previous building which was constructed in 1394 was destroyed by an invading Japanese army. The shrine houses sacred tablets bearing the teachings of members of the former Choson ruling family. Ritual ceremonies of music, song and dance still take place at the shrine to this day, a tradition that has been started since the 14th century. Inscribed on the List on the basis of criteria iv.

Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty


Inscribed in the World Heritage List only this year (2009), the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty is South Korea’s ninth UNESCO-designated treasure. Scattered over 18 locations throughout Seoul, Gyeonggido, and Gangwondo, this group of 40 royal tombs were built over five centuries and houses 27 generations of the kingdom’s kings, queens and other rulers. This property meets criteria iii, iv, and vi.

Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple


Located in Gyeongju, the Seokguram Grotto is a hermitage and part of the Bulguksa Temple complex. It was built in the 8th century and epitomizes some of the best Buddhist sculptures in the world. It features a huge, white statue of the seated Buddha overlooking the Sea of Japan. Inscribed in the World Heritage List in 1995 on the basis of criteria i and iv.

Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes


Inscribed in the World Heritage List in 2007 on the basis of criteria vii and viii, this property includes three components, the Gaemunoreum, which is regarded as the finest lava tube system of caves in the world; the fortress-like Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak, a tuff cone which rose out of the sea and was formed from a volcanic eruption about 100,000 years ago; and Mount Halla, the highest mountain in South Korea.

Remarkable sites indeed. But the story does not end with the site being inscribed in the World Heritage List. If it is to stay in the List, the characteristics, qualities and requirements that justified its being included in the list must be preserved.

These are valuable heritage sites that koreans are very proud to share to the world. Their heritage which is their inheritance from their rich past and which will be passed on to future generations not only of koreans but of the entire world as well. THANK YOU KOREA!!!