'Yangju Hoeamsaji Site' Listed on UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List... 13th in Korea

Recognition of the Heritage Value Proving the Prosperity and Spread of East Asian Buddhist Seon Culture

Posted on UNESCO Homepage: Yangju Hoeamsaji Historic Site [Yangju City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Yangju City in Gyeonggi Province announced on the 27th that the "Yangju Hoeamsaji Site" was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List as of the 20th local time in France.

With this, the "Yangju Hoeamsaji Site" became the 13th site in South Korea to be included on the World Heritage Tentative List.

The World Heritage Tentative List is a preliminary list for heritage sites with Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), based on sufficient research and data accumulation, serving as a preparatory step before official World Heritage inscription.

To apply for World Heritage inscription, a site must first be listed on the Tentative List and at least one year must pass before eligibility is granted.

The "Yangju Hoeamsaji Site," inscribed on the Tentative List, consists of the central temple area where over 70 building sites were confirmed through excavation, and monuments such as stupas, stone lanterns, and stele commemorating eminent monks who revitalized Hoeamsa Temple.

This heritage is recognized for its historical and cultural value as tangible evidence demonstrating the prosperity and spread of East Asian Buddhist Seon (Zen) culture in the 14th century, concretely proving the Seon Buddhist practice tradition and the spatial organization system of the temple.

Yangju Hoeamsaji Site [Yangju-si]

The site, which was established in the late 14th century and operated until the late 16th century, remains intact and is acknowledged as a well-preserved and managed archaeological heritage.

From 1997 to 2016, over approximately 20 years, excavation, museum construction, and site maintenance were completed to promote its value and ensure systematic preservation and management.

Starting with internal research in 2015, the foundation for World Heritage inscription was laid, and from 2017, academic research for excavation was intensified.

Through in-depth studies including expert consultations, comparative research on similar domestic and international heritage, on-site investigations of Chinese Seon temples, international academic symposiums, monthly research team seminars and workshops, and colloquiums, the efforts bore fruit after about seven years of inscription promotion.

Mayor Kang Su-hyun stated, "The inscription of our city’s representative cultural heritage, 'Hoeamsaji,' on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List has laid the groundwork for Yangju City to grow into a historical and cultural hub in northern Gyeonggi Province."

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