Sayart.net - Korea′s Gaya Tumuli Earns UNESCO World Heritage Status

Cultural Heritage Administration

In a momentous decision, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, during its 45th session in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has inscribed the Gaya Tumuli on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List. The seven tomb clusters, relics of Korea's ancient Gaya Kingdom that thrived from 42 to 562 CE, were officially recognized on Sunday.

This significant announcement comes as part of the World Heritage Committee's ongoing session, which commenced on September 10 and is slated to conclude on Monday. During this session, the committee deliberated on the inscription of 50 sites from the tentative list.

The seven clusters of Gaya Tumuli that have achieved this illustrious status include: Gimhae Daeseong-dong Tumuli, Haman Marisan Tumuli, Changnyeong Gyo-dong and Songhyeon-dong Tumuli, Goseong Songhak-dong Tumuli, and Hapcheon Okjeon Tumuli—all situated in South Gyeongsang Province. Additionally, Goryeong Jisan-dong Tumuli in North Gyeongsang Province and Namwon Yugok-ri and Durak-ri Tumuli in North Jeolla Province have also been included.

The Cultural Heritage Administration reported that the World Heritage Committee recognized the exceptional universal value of the Gaya Tumuli. These burial mounds not only serve as archaeological evidence of the Gaya culture with its unique confederation-based political system but also highlight the diversity among ancient East Asian civilizations.

With the addition of the Gaya Tumuli, South Korea's tally of UNESCO World Heritage sites now stands at an impressive 16, encompassing 14 cultural heritage sites and two natural heritage sites. Notably, Korean tidal flats, known as Getbol, were inscribed in 2021, while Korean neo-Confucian academies, referred to as Seowon, achieved this status in 2019.

The journey to securing UNESCO recognition for the Gaya Tumuli began when South Korea submitted its application to UNESCO in January 2021 during the previous Moon Jae-in administration. This year, in May, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), an advisory body to the World Heritage Committee, conducted an onsite review.

During the session, ICOMOS confirmed that the conditions of integrity and authenticity, both for the entire series and individual component parts, had been met. The draft decision included certain recommendations aimed at reducing the vulnerability of the integrity of specific component parts.

In response to the UNESCO announcement, Choi Eung-chon, the head of the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA), expressed gratitude to the World Heritage Committee for recognizing the Gaya Tumuli's significance as evidence of the rich diversity within ancient East Asian civilization. Choi emphasized that the CHA would collaborate closely with local governments to ensure the careful preservation of this newfound world heritage site.

However, it's worth noting that the current Yoon Suk Yeol administration has not included research and restoration of ancient Gaya in its government projects. This departure stands in contrast to the previous administrations led by Kim Dae-jung and Moon Jae-in, which prioritized the research and promotion of Gaya's history.

Sayart.net 

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