Gyeongju City: "Gyeongbuk East Coast Geopark Proudly Joins the Global Geopark Community"

Recognition of Value for Sites Including Yangnam Columnar Joints in Gyeongju
Certificate Awarded at the GGN General Assembly in Chile

Gyeongju City announced that the Gyeongbuk East Coast Geopark officially received the "UNESCO Global Geopark Certificate" at the 11th Global Geoparks Network (GGN) General Assembly, which was held in Temuco, Chile, for five days from September 8 to 12 (local time).

The certificate award ceremony took place on the night of the 10th (morning of the 11th in Korea) during the assembly, in front of more than 1,000 delegates from over 70 countries around the world.

On the 10th (local time), at the 11th Global Geoparks Network General Assembly held in Temuco, Chile, the delegation from the Gyeongbuk East Coast Geopark is taking a commemorative photo after receiving the UNESCO Global Geopark certification. Photo by Gyeongju City

The Gyeongbuk East Coast Geopark, which was designated as a "UNESCO Global Geopark" by the UNESCO Executive Board in April, received the certificate at this assembly symbolizing its membership as a full member of the Global Geoparks Network (GGN).

While the designation document issued by the UNESCO headquarters in Paris serves as the official document with international validity, this certificate carries significant symbolic meaning as an international declaration and welcome of membership in the global geopark community.

During the assembly, geoparks from various countries continued their exchanges through promotional booths, academic presentations, and discussions on international cooperation. The delegation from the Gyeongbuk East Coast Geopark attracted significant international attention by introducing exploration programs, community participation activities, and examples of geological heritage conservation.

The UNESCO Global Geopark system evaluates not only geological value but also the connection with ecological, historical, and cultural resources, community cooperation, and sustainable management systems. Even after designation, parks must pass a revalidation every four years to maintain their status.

The Gyeongbuk East Coast Geopark features a variety of geological landscapes, including the largest Cenozoic fossil site on the Korean Peninsula, the formation of East Asian tectonic structures, and major traces of volcanic activity.

Among these, Gyeongju includes four sites: Namsan Granite, Golgulam, the Tomb of King Munmu, and Yangnam Columnar Joints.

The Gyeongbuk East Coast National Geopark spans four regions-Uljin, Yeongdeok, Pohang, and Gyeongju-with a total area of 2,693.69 km², making it the largest in Korea.

There are 29 major geological sites, including the Yangnam Columnar Joints in Gyeongju.

Kim Honggeun, Director of Environmental Policy at Gyeongju City, stated, "The awarding of this certificate is an achievement that elevates Gyeongju's international status and signifies our firm position as a proud member of the global geopark community. We will continue to link geological tourism resources with cultural heritage to further develop Gyeongju as a world-class tourist city."

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