Korea is rightly proud of some of its heritage, much of which has been given official recognition by UNESCO. For those of you who like lists, here are the various items of Korea’s tangible and intangible heritage which have been so listed. Also included below are links to any LKL articles on these treasures.
(1) World Heritage
First, possibly the most high-profile list, mainly because it’s a list of things that you can tick off on your trips around Korea.
| Year | Cultural heritage item | LKL links |
| 1995 | Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple (ROK) | Here |
| 1995 | Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, the Depositories for the Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks (ROK) | Here |
| 1995 | Jongmyo Shrine (ROK) | Here |
| 1997 | Changdeokgung Palace Complex (ROK) | Here |
| 1997 | Hwaseong Fortress (ROK) | Here |
| 2000 | Gyeongju Historic Areas (ROK) | Here |
| 2000 | Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites (ROK) | Here |
| 2004 | Complex of Koguryo Tombs (DPRK) | N/a |
| 2009 | Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty (ROK) | Here |
| 2010 | Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong (ROK) | N/a |
| 2013 | Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong (DPRK) | Here |
| 2014 | Namhansanseong Fortress (ROK) | Here |
| 2018 | Baekje Historic Areas (ROK) | Here |
| 2015 | Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea (ROK) | N/a |
In addition, there’s one item of Natural heritage which gets listed:
| Year | Natural heritage item | LKL Link |
| 2007 | Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes (ROK) | N/a |
(2) Intangible Cultural Heritage
Next, the Intangible Cultural Heritage items. But what is Intangible Cultural Heritage? This, from the UNESCO site:
According to the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, the intangible cultural heritage – or living heritage – is the mainspring of our cultural diversity and its maintenance a guarantee for continuing creativity.
The Convention states that the ICH is manifested, among others, in the following domains:
- Oral traditions and expressions including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage;
- Performing arts (such as traditional music, dance and theatre);
- Social practices, rituals and festive events;
- Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe;
- Traditional craftsmanship.
The following items of Korea’s heritage are listed:
(3) Memory of the World
UNESCO’s programme aiming at preservation and dissemination of valuable archive holdings and library collections worldwide
(4) Biosphere Reserves
Possibly a less familiar list. According to the UNESCO website,
Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems promoting solutions to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use. They are internationally recognized, nominated by national governments and remain under sovereign jurisdiction of the states where they are located. Biosphere reserves serve in some ways as ‘living laboratories’ for testing out and demonstrating integrated management of land, water and biodiversity. Collectively, biosphere reserves form a world network: the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR). Within this network, exchanges of information, experience and personnel are facilitated. There are over 500 biosphere reserves in over 100 countries.
From the DPRK, the following sites are listed:
- Mount Paekdu (1989)
- Mt. Kuwol (2004)
- Mount Myohyang (2009)
- Mt Chilbo (2014)
- Mt Kumgang (2018)
And from the ROK:
- Mount Sorak (1982)
- Jeju Island (2002)
- Shinan Dadohae (2009)
- Gwangneung Forest (2010)
- Gochang (2013)
- Suncheon (2018)
(5) Tentative list
Finally, a list of those properties which each Korea intends to consider for nomination to the World Heritage list in the future
From the ROK:
- Ancient Mountain Fortresses in Central Korea (Chungcheongbuk-do) (11/01/2010)
- Daegokcheon Stream Petroglyphs (Ulsan Metropolitan City) (11/01/2010)
- Gongju and Buyeo Historic Sites (Chungcheongnam-do) (11/01/2010)
- Iksan Historic Areas (Jeollabuk-do) (11/01/2010)
- Kangjingun Kiln Sites (Jeollanam-do (01/09/1994)
- Mt. Soraksan Nature Reserve (01/09/1994)
- Naganeupseong, Town Fortress and Village (Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do) (11/03/2011)
- Namhansanseong – Ancient Fortified Military and Cultural Landscape of Mt. Namhansan (Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do) (11/01/2010)
- Oeam Village, (Asan-si, Chungcheongnam-do) (11/03/2011)
- Salterns (Jeollanam-do) (11/01/2010)
- Sites of fossilized dinosaurs throughout the Southern seacoast (25/01/2002)
- Southwestern Coast Tidal Flats (Jeolla-do) (11/01/2010)
- Upo Wetland (Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do) (11/01/2011)
And from the DPRK:
- Mt. Myohyang and the Relics in and around the Mountain (2000)
- Historical Relics in Kaesong (2000). Inscribed into the official list on 23 June 2013.
- Historical Relics in Pyongyang (2000)
- Mt. Kumgang and the Historical Relics in and around the Mountain (2000)
- Caves in Kujang Area (2000)
- Mt. Chilbo (2000). Admitted into the list on 13 June 2014.
Links: