Cultural Heritage Administration Inspects 14 Heritage Sites in Gyeongju Ahead of APEC Summit

Cheomseongdae, Hwangnyongsa Temple Site, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, and More

Before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, the before and after views of the temporary parking lot at Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond and the maintenance of the Wolseong exploration trail were inspected. Cultural Heritage Administration

The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 24th that it had completed a comprehensive inspection of 14 major heritage sites in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit to be held in the city.

This inspection was conducted jointly with the city of Gyeongju over approximately five months, from March to July. The sites inspected include 14 locations designated under the Special Act on the Restoration and Maintenance of Core Silla Royal Capital Heritage Sites, such as Wolseong, Hwangnyongsa Temple Site, Cheomseongdae, and Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond.

The inspection reviewed the status of preservation and management of relics, remains, and heritage sites; the safety of construction and excavation sites; the convenience of visitor facilities; and improvements to the surrounding landscape.

The area around Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, which has been criticized for causing inconvenience to visitors, was included as a target for improvement through this inspection. To address the lack of parking spaces and issues with water pooling on the pavement, the Cultural Heritage Administration and the city of Gyeongju plan to establish a temporary parking lot with a capacity of about 200 vehicles by September.

The nighttime landscape of Cheomseongdae will also be newly enhanced. While the existing lighting merely highlighted the structure’s form, starting in October, a media art installation reflecting the site's historical significance and symbolism will be installed and operated, based on expert consultation from the Center for Archaeoastronomy Convergence Research at the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute and others.

At the Hwangnyongsa Temple Site, where excavation has continued since 1976, the construction of the entrance podium was completed last year, and this year, the maintenance of the southern plaza is scheduled for completion. By 2027, the restoration of podiums for major architectural remains in the central temple area, including the main hall, will also be carried out sequentially.

The Cultural Heritage Administration stated, "We aim to ensure that Gyeongju's heritage is widely promoted to the world and enhances national prestige during the APEC Summit by creating a pleasant environment for viewing national heritage and through systematic preservation management." The agency also added, "We will continue to conduct ongoing on-site inspections to prevent problems in the process of heritage restoration and preservation in advance."

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