Historic Moment!... Bangudae Petroglyphs, "World Heritage Inscription Commemoration Ceremony" Held

The 7,000-year-old mural depicting whales and hunters has become a treasure not only for South Korea but for the world.

On November 18 at 10:30 a.m., the Ulsan Metropolitan Government will hold a ceremony at the second floor of Lotte Hotel Ulsan to commemorate the inscription of the Bangudae Petroglyphs as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Approximately 200 people, including Ulsan Mayor Kim Dukyum, National Heritage Administration Commissioner Heo Min, and Ulsan County Governor Lee Soongeol, will attend the event. The ceremony will include commendations for contributors, congratulatory speeches, and the presentation of the inscription certificate.

During the commendations, three public officials who contributed to the inscription of the Bangudae Petroglyphs as a World Heritage site will receive awards from the National Heritage Administration Commissioner, while one institution and eight individuals, including citizens and public officials, will receive awards from the Mayor of Ulsan.

Following this, Heo Min, Commissioner of the National Heritage Administration, will present the UNESCO World Heritage inscription certificates, which arrived from the World Heritage Committee, to Mayor Kim Dukyum and County Governor Lee Soongeol, respectively.

After the ceremony, the "2025 International Academic Conference on the Bangudae Petroglyphs" will be held from 1:00 p.m. on the same day.

This academic conference, held over two days on November 18 and 19, will bring together around 200 participants, including domestic and international experts on petroglyphs and World Heritage, as well as citizens. The main theme is "World Heritage: The Bangudae Petroglyphs and the Future-Sustainable Heritage Management and Utilization."

In particular, six World Heritage and petroglyph experts from four countries-Australia, Norway, China, and Malaysia-will gather to explore the outstanding universal value and academic significance of the Bangudae Petroglyphs, and to discuss strategies for their preservation and utilization as a World Heritage site.

The conference will be moderated by Kim Hyunsik, Director of the Ulsan Cultural Heritage Research Institute (on November 18), and Kim Jihyun, Team Leader at the Agenda Policy Center of the Korean National Commission for UNESCO (on November 19).

On the first day of the conference, November 18, discussions will focus on the World Heritage value of the Bangudae Petroglyphs through comparisons with petroglyph heritage sites around the world.

The event will begin with a keynote lecture by Kang Hyunsook, Professor Emeritus at Dongguk University WISE Campus, on the topic "The Bangudae Petroglyphs in Textbooks."

This will be followed by five presentations: ▲Benjamin Smith (Chair, ICOMOS International Rock Art Scientific Committee), "Petroglyph World Heritage-A Global Perspective"; ▲Ken Mulvaney (Professor, University of Western Australia), "Murujuga Cultural Landscape and Industrial Hub"; ▲Jan Magne Jerde (Professor, Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research), "World Heritage Petroglyph Sites in Scandinavia-Introduction to Alta and Tanum Petroglyphs"; ▲Zhang Yasa (Professor, Minzu University of China), "The Cultural Genealogy and Transmission Routes of Stupa-shaped Petroglyphs on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau"; and ▲Ang Ming Chee (Director, George Town World Heritage Incorporated, Malaysia) and Ooi Boon Nee (Manager, Heritage Research and Development, George Town World Heritage Incorporated, Malaysia), "Harmonious Heritage: Lessons from a Community-based Approach."

In the comprehensive discussion session, Han Samgeon (Director, Ulsan History Research Institute) will serve as moderator, with participation from Cho Dowon (Vice Chair, ICOMOS Korea), Kim Youngsoo (Research Professor, Seoul Studies Institute, University of Seoul), Hwang Changhan (Director, Ulsan Cultural Heritage Research Institute), Kang Dongjin (Professor, Department of Urban Planning, Kyungsung University), and Kim Sunmi (Curator, Namhansanseong World Heritage Center), for an in-depth debate on the global value of the Bangudae Petroglyphs.

On the second day, November 19, the focus will shift to discussing strategies for the preservation and utilization of the Bangudae Petroglyphs, centering on domestic World Heritage case studies.

The day will begin with a keynote lecture by Choi Jaeheon, Chair of ICOMOS Korea, on "The World Heritage Value of the Bangudae Petroglyphs and Directions for Preservation and Utilization."

This will be followed by three presentations: ▲Heo Jini (Team Leader, Heritage Utilization, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province World Heritage Headquarters), "World Heritage Jeju Awareness Enhancement Program-Focusing on the World Heritage Festival in Jeju"; ▲Park Jinjae (Director of Planning and Coordination, Integrated Management Center for Seowon, Korean World Heritage), "Balancing Preservation and Utilization of Korea's Seowon World Heritage"; and ▲Jung Guyoun (Director, Baekje World Heritage Center), "Future Strategies for the Baekje Historic Areas World Heritage Site."

In the comprehensive discussion session, Choi Jaeheon (Chair, ICOMOS Korea) will moderate, joined by Ha Seungcheol (Director of Research, Gaya Tumuli World Heritage Management Foundation) and Kim Hoejeong (Senior Researcher, Chungcheongnam-do Institute of History and Culture), for an in-depth discussion on strategies for the preservation and utilization of the Bangudae Petroglyphs.

Mayor Kim Dukyum stated, "This event is a meaningful occasion to commemorate the inscription of the Bangudae Petroglyphs as a World Heritage site and to discuss its future together. Ulsan will now promote its value to the world as a cultural city that embraces World Heritage, and will do its utmost to ensure its preservation and utilization."

International Academic Conference Poster.

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