Mayor Lee Donghwan: "All-Out Efforts for UNESCO World Heritage Listing of 'Hanyang's Capital Fortress Walls' Including Bukhansanseong"

Goyang's Iconic Cultural Heritage, Bukhansanseong Fortress, "Hanyang's Capital Fortress Walls"
Selected as "Candidate for Inscription" in Domestic Review for UNESCO World Heritage
Domestic Procedures for UNESCO World Heritage Inscription to be Completed by 2027
Preparing for International Review, Including Official Submission to UNESCO in February Next Year

Goyang Special City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Donghwan) announced on August 7 that "Hanyang's Capital Fortress Walls," which consist of three fortress heritage sites?Bukhansanseong Fortress, Hanyangdoseong Fortress, and Tangchundaeseong Fortress?have been selected as "candidates for inscription" in the domestic review for UNESCO World Heritage listing.

View of Bukhansanseong Fortress (towards Daenammun Gate). Provided by Goyang Special City

"Hanyang's Capital Fortress Walls" were confirmed as inscription candidates at the World Heritage Subcommittee review of the Cultural Heritage Administration held on July 31. With this, all domestic procedures for UNESCO World Heritage inscription have been completed.

Including Bukhansanseong Fortress, "Hanyang's Capital Fortress Walls" form a large-scale group of fortifications, consisting of three valley-type fortresses, each with distinct functions. By physically connecting Hanyangdoseong Fortress, Tangchundaeseong Fortress, and Bukhansanseong Fortress, they served as a core defense system to protect the capital Hanyang of the Joseon Dynasty in the 18th century.

Since 2021, the city has been jointly pursuing World Heritage inscription with Seoul Metropolitan Government and Gyeonggi Province in order to promote and preserve the historical value of "Hanyang's Capital Fortress Walls" to the world.

Bukhansanseong Fortress Gate (Jungseongmun). Provided by Goyang Special City

"Hanyang's Capital Fortress Walls" were selected for the Tentative List through the Cultural Heritage Committee's review in 2022, and successfully completed all domestic review procedures from 2023 to this year. The city plans to thoroughly prepare for the international review, including the official submission of the inscription application in February 2026 and the on-site evaluation by ICOMOS, with the goal of being inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2027.

The UNESCO World Heritage inscription process proceeds from domestic review to international evaluation. The domestic review consists of four stages: selection for the tentative list, selection for the priority inscription list, selection as an inscription candidate, and confirmation as an inscription target.

Bukhansanseong Fortress Wall (Sidanbong Section). Provided by Goyang Special City

Afterwards, the official inscription application is submitted to UNESCO in February of the following year, and the final decision on inscription is made after the evaluation by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the deliberation by the World Heritage Committee (WHC).

Meanwhile, "Hanyang's Capital Fortress Walls" received a positive preliminary evaluation in 2024 from ICOMOS, indicating the potential to meet the criteria for Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). It is a unique testimony to a cultural tradition or civilization, whether living or disappeared, corresponding to World Heritage criterion (iii). In addition, the authenticity and integrity of the heritage were also recognized.

Composition of Hanyang's Capital Fortress Walls (Doseongyeonyungbuhanhabdo, Donggukyeodo 18th century). Provided by Goyang Special City

Lee Donghwan, Mayor of Goyang, stated, "The selection as an inscription candidate recognizes Hanyang's Capital Fortress Walls as a world-class heritage that demonstrates Joseon's defense strategy. We will work closely with Seoul Metropolitan Government, which is jointly pursuing the inscription, and thoroughly prepare until the end with the goal of inscription in 2027, so that the history and cultural value of Goyang Special City can be widely known to the world."

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