Major Later Baekje Sites Urged for National Heritage Designation and Increased Government Funding

Regular Meeting of the Council of Seven Cities and Counties Including Jeonju

"Systematic Preservation and Utilization Within the Institutional Framework Needed"

The Later Baekje Cultural Region Local Government Council held its 2026 regular meeting on the 2nd at the Korea Traditional Culture Center, with about 30 participants including deputy heads of member organizations and related personnel.

Seven domestic cities and counties that share the history and culture of Later Baekje gathered in one place to urge the designation of national heritage sites and increased financial support from the government.

The Later Baekje Cultural Region Local Government Council held its regular meeting for 2026 on the 2nd at the Korean Traditional Culture Center, with more than 30 attendees including deputy heads and officials from member organizations.

This meeting was organized to review the achievements of major projects carried out last year and to reaffirm the commitment to cooperation for elevating the national status of the Later Baekje historical and cultural region.

The main agenda items included: ▲ settlement and performance report for 2025 projects ▲ review and resolution of a joint statement urging the elevation of preservation and maintenance of major sites in the Later Baekje historical and cultural region to a national-level strategic project ▲ review and resolution for a National Assembly academic conference as a joint project for 2026 ▲ confirmation of plans for academic and exchange projects, and others.

Member cities of the council reaffirmed at this general meeting that the top priority is the designation of major sites within the "Later Baekje Historical and Cultural Region" as national heritage and the expansion of institutionally-driven support by the national government. They also agreed to promote a joint statement to accelerate this process.

The current "Special Act on Maintenance of Historical and Cultural Regions" designates nine cultural regions: Mahan, Baekje, Gaya, Silla, Goguryeo, Tamna, Jungwon, and Later Baekje, among others. However, Later Baekje faces many difficulties in being designated as national heritage among these regions, and therefore receives less government support compared to other historical and cultural areas.

Acting Mayor Yoon Donguk of Jeonju stated, "As the unity of the council has been further strengthened through this general meeting, Jeonju will continue to take the lead so that the Later Baekje historical and cultural region can be systematically preserved and utilized within the national institutional framework."

Meanwhile, the regular meeting also shared achievements from last year, such as joint academic research projects conducted by member local governments and academic conferences aimed at uncovering the history of Later Baekje.

At the meeting, the Korea Regional Development Institute, which was responsible for the joint academic research project, emphasized the need for future initiatives at the council level, including hosting a Later Baekje historical and cultural region development forum, academic research, support projects for excavations, and building an integrated brand connecting both local and regional tourism development plans.

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