Restoring Historical Significance through Korean War Cultural Heritage Excavation

Cultural Heritage Administration Announces Key Work Plan for This Year... Excavation and Reappraisal of Korean War and April 19 Cultural Assets
Comprehensive Survey of Historical and Cultural Resources to Expand Nationwide to Cities and Provinces from Next Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jong-gil] In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War and the 60th anniversary of the April 19 Revolution, projects to discover, restore, and maintain related cultural heritage are set to be fully launched.

The Cultural Heritage Administration announced its major work plans for this year on the 11th, stating its intention to restore the historical significance of cultural heritage related to the Korean War and the April 19 Revolution. Approximately 200 related records will be cataloged through recommendations from local governments and expert discussions. These include Korean War records, relics of veterans and abductees, United Nations forces materials, and leaflets from the April 19 Revolution.

About 10 relics of veterans and battle reports will be registered as cultural heritage. Additionally, the old Army 1st Training Center in Jeju and the Presidential Residence of the Temporary Capital in Busan will be repaired and maintained. The old Army 1st Training Center in Jeju produced many new soldiers during the Korean War and provided a foothold for the recapture of Seoul. The Presidential Residence of the Temporary Capital in Busan was used as the president’s office and residence during the Korean War.

The Cultural Heritage Administration plans to open these two sites to the public and hold special exhibitions and academic events that reexamine the dedication of soldiers, the tragedy of fratricidal war, the pain of separated families, and the democratic ideals of the April 19 Revolution. Furthermore, efforts will continue to register the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) as a World Heritage site, and plans will be developed for the investigation and registration of cultural heritage at the Yongsan US military base.

In the future, a full survey project will be conducted on historical and cultural resources, including non-designated cultural heritage that are at risk of damage or disappearance. This year’s target areas are Daegu, Gyeongbuk, and Gangwon Province. From next year, the scope will expand nationwide to cities and provinces. Legal frameworks will be pursued to systematize the management of modern and contemporary cultural heritage, natural heritage, underwater cultural heritage, and non-designated cultural heritage to reduce blind spots. Models for evaluating the cultural heritage management capabilities of cities, counties, and districts, as well as cultural heritage impact assessment models, will be developed to encourage systematic management. Additionally, some authority to approve changes to cultural heritage status will be delegated to certain local government heads, and support will be provided for buried cultural heritage investigation costs.

Advanced technology will be actively applied to cultural heritage preservation policies. ICT systems for electrical fire prevention will be installed in 50 cultural heritage sites such as traditional houses, and disaster prevention facilities including closed-circuit (CC) TVs and fire hydrants will be expanded. Moreover, disaster prevention and care personnel will be increased, and deep learning technologies that detect patterns in data will be introduced.

Restoration of Gwanghwamun Woldae at Gyeongbokgung Palace, reconstruction of Dondeokjeon at Deoksugung Palace, and maintenance of Imcheonggak and the old Seodaemun Prison will proceed according to plan. Legal grounds will be established to ensure thorough investigations and maintenance. Eight modern industrial facilities including Joseon Old Roads and the Kim Chung-up Architecture Museum, as well as Hunmaengjeongeum, will be designated and managed as cultural heritage.

On the 17th, when snow was falling in the central region, tourists visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace in Jongno-gu, Seoul, strolled through the snow-covered ancient palace, enjoying the winter atmosphere. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The intangible cultural heritage system will be revised to improve the status and authority of transmission education assistants. The exclusive authority for transmission education held only by holders and holder organizations will also be granted to transmission education assistants, and support for transmission education centers across the country will be expanded. Transmission support funds will be increased from 1.35 million won to 1.5 million won for holders. Support funds for transmission education assistants will also rise from 680,000 won to 700,000 won.

Korean palaces and Joseon royal tombs, representative cultural heritage of the Republic of Korea, will be developed as cultural heritage brands. Heungbokjeon at Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gwolnaegaksa at Changdeokgung Palace, and Deokheungjeon at Deoksugung Palace will be opened to the public, and nighttime viewing at Gyeongbokgung Palace will be extended from 71 to 91 days annually. A system allowing payment of admission fees at Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung Palaces via transportation cards will also be introduced. Furthermore, the Royal Culture Festival, which has been held once a year, will be held twice annually, and citizen participation programs will be expanded. Plans to create a pilgrimage route connecting 18 Joseon royal tombs are also under consideration.

Efforts to register more sites as World Heritage will continue. This year, the cultural heritage being prepared for registration includes ‘Korea’s Tidal Flats’ and the ‘Yeondeunghoe’ Lantern Festival. Their registration decisions will be made at the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in July and the UNESCO Intangible Heritage Committee in December, respectively. The Cultural Heritage Administration stated, “The application for inscription of ‘Korean Mask Dance’ as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity will also be submitted this month.” It added, “To strengthen international competitiveness, preparations are underway to introduce Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA), and plans to establish a UNESCO World Heritage Interpretation Center are also being pursued.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.