UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South Korea

UNESCO's Description

The Temple of Haeinsa, on Mount Gaya, is home to the Tripitaka Koreana , the most complete collection of Buddhist texts, engraved on 80,000 woodblocks between 1237 and 1248. The buildings of Janggyeong Panjeon, which date from the 15th century, were constructed to house the woodblocks, which are also revered as exceptional works of art. As the oldest depository of the Tripitaka , they reveal an astonishing mastery of the invention and implementation of the conservation techniques used to preserve these woodblocks.

From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).

Background and history

Haeinsa temple, built in 802 (third year of the reign of Aejang of Silla), is thought to have been constructed as an expression of gratitude for Buddha’s power in curing the queen’s illness.

From 1236 to 1251, the Tripitaka Koreana was produced to invoke Buddha's power to repel the Mongol invasions of Korea. It consists of 81,352 printing woodblocks. Although it was made in Namhae County and stored in Ganghwa Island, it was moved to its present-day location in 1398 due to frequent invasions of waegu. It was designated as a Memory of the World in 2007.

Although the date of its first construction is unknown, the janggyeong panjeon is considered as the oldest extant structure of Haeinsa.

UNESCO's Description

Jongmyo is the oldest and most authentic of the Confucian royal shrines to have been preserved. Dedicated to the forefathers of the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910), the shrine has existed in its present form since the 16th century and houses tablets bearing the teachings of members of the former royal family. Ritual ceremonies linking music, song and dance still take place there, perpetuating a tradition that goes back to the 14th century.

From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).

History

When it was built in 1394 at the order of King Taejo, the Jongmyo Shrine was thought to be one of the longest buildings in Asia, if not the longest. The main hall, known as Jeongjeon (정전; 正殿), had seven niches or myoshil (묘실; 廟室; lit. 'Temple Room'), each reserved for the spirit tablets of a king and his queens. The complex was expanded by King Sejong (r. 1418–50) who ordered the construction of Yeongnyeongjeon (영녕전; 永寧殿; lit. 'Hall of Eternal Comfort'). This practice of expansion continued, with the growth of the complex moving from west to east, because of the need to house more memorial tablets during the reigns of later kings until there were a total of 19 myoshil.

Description

Viewed from the king's throne room at the royal palace Gyeongbokgung, Jongmyo Shrine would have been on the king's left while the Sajik Shrine, another important Confucian shrine, was on the right. This arrangement was derived from Chinese practice. Because Changdeokgung Palace was older than Gyeongbokgung Palace, Jongmyo was connected to Changdeokgung Palace, and the king entered and left through the north gate instead of the south gate. The main halls are surrounded by hills. The south entrance gate was reserved for spirits to enter and exit, the east gate was for the king, and the west gate was for the performers of the royal ritual.

The main building of the Jongmyo Shrine is divided into the Jeongjeon(정전/正殿) and the Yeongnyeongjeon(영녕전/永寧殿).

Key Facts

Facts from Wikidata Q490497 (CC0).

UNESCO's Description

In the early 15th century, the King Taejong ordered the construction of a new palace at an auspicious site. A Bureau of Palace Construction was set up to create the complex, consisting of a number of official and residential buildings set in a garden that was cleverly adapted to the uneven topography of the 58-ha site. The result is an exceptional example of Far Eastern palace architecture and design, blending harmoniously with the surrounding landscape.

From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).

History

In 1392 (Korean calendar), Joseon was established. Afterwards, the state's capital Hanyang (also called Hanseong and later called Seoul) was established and Gyeongbokgung was made its main palace (법궁; 法宮; pŏpkung). Due to political turmoil, the capital was temporarily moved to Kaesong and then back to Hanyang in 1404. King Taejong (r. 1400–1418) then ordered the establishment of Changdeokgung as a secondary palace (이궁; 離宮; igung). His possible motivations for this order have been analyzed. A number of scholars have argued Taejong wanted to avoid Gyeongbokgung because he associated it with unpleasant memories of familial deaths there and thought it had inauspicious feng shui qualities.

Key Facts

Facts from Wikidata Q477157 (CC0).

UNESCO's Description

When the Joseon King Jeongjo moved his father's tomb to Suwon at the end of the 18th century, he surrounded it with strong defensive works, laid out according to the precepts of an influential military architect of the period, who brought together the latest developments in the field from both East and West. The massive walls, extending for nearly 6 km, still survive; they are pierced by four gates and equipped with bastions, artillery towers and other features.

From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).

Overview of structures

The wall is 5.74 kilometres (3.57 mi) in length and varies between 4 and 6 metres (13–20 ft), originally enclosing 1.3 square kilometres (0.5 sq mi) of land. On flat terrain the wall was generally built higher than that on either of the two hills over which it passes, as higher walls were seen as less necessary along hilltops. The parapets are made of stone and brick, like most of the fortress, and were 1.2 metres (4 ft) in height. All parts are well-maintained, and the whole circuit can be walked easily.

The 1795 fortress had four gates: Janganmun (north gate), Hwaseomun (west), Paldalmun (south) and Changnyongmun (east). Janganmun and Paldalmun are the largest of the four main gates and resemble Seoul's Namdaemun in roof design, stone and woodwork.

Background

King Jeongjo apparently built Hwaseong Fortress to prepare for a move of the capital from Seoul to Suwon. Suwon was purported to be strategically positioned to connect Seoul with the West Sea (Yellow Sea) and China. The king wanted to leave the factional strife of the court to carry out reforms and believed that Suwon had the potential to grow into a new and prosperous capital. To encourage growth, he ordered people to move to Suwon at considerable expense and exempted them from taxes for ten years. King Jeongjo also ordered public works, such as the building of educational facilities to better facilitate the city as a capital.

Suwon Hwaseong Fortress was restored based on the Hwaseong Seongyeok Uigwe, a design drawing from 200 years ago.

UNESCO's Description

The prehistoric cemeteries at Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa contain many hundreds of examples of dolmens - tombs from the 1st millennium BC constructed of large stone slabs. They form part of the Megalithic culture, found in many parts of the world, but nowhere in such a concentrated form.

From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).

Description

Dolmens are generally classified as two types in East Asia. The table/northern-type and the go-board/southern-type. In the former, four stones were positioned to make the walls of a box and were capped by a stone which lay on top of the supports. The latter is characterized by underground burial with stones that supported the capstone.

This site of dolmens contains the largest and most varied group. They are known as the Jungnim-ri dolmens and are centered in Maesan village, Gochang County, North Jeolla province.

The dolmens were built from east to west at the foot of a series of hills at an altitude of 15 to 50 meters (49 to 164 feet). Generally, the capstones of the dolmens are around 1 to 5.8 meters (3.3 to 19.0 feet) in length and may weigh up to 225 tons.

Key Facts

Facts from Wikidata Q495286 (CC0).

UNESCO's Description

The Gyeongju Historic Areas contain a remarkable concentration of outstanding examples of Korean Buddhist art, in the form of sculptures, reliefs, pagodas, and the remains of temples and palaces from the flowering, in particular between the 7th and 10th centuries, of this form of unique artistic expression.

From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).

Description

The item is organized into five subregions that each contain a number of attractions.

The Mount Namsan Belt is based around the holy mountain Namsan, in the north of Gyeongju. The mountain itself is considered a large open-air museum because of the ancient art and artifacts on display in the open. The area includes numerous Buddhist art and artifacts, as well as the ruins of 122 temples, 53 stone statues, 64 stone pagodas, and 16 stone lanterns. Other notable sites include the Namsan Mountain Fortress (built in 591 CE), the Poseokjeong Pavilion site (famous for its abalone-shaped watercourse), and the Seochulji Pond.

The Wolseong Belt is based around the site of the former palace Wolseong. It also contains the Gyerim woodland, the artificial pond Anapji, and the observatory Cheomseongdae.

Key Facts

Facts from Wikidata Q495241 (CC0).

UNESCO's Description

Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes together comprise three sites that make up 18,846 ha. It includes Geomunoreum, regarded as the finest lava tube system of caves anywhere, with its multicoloured carbonate roofs and floors, and dark-coloured lava walls; the fortress-like Seongsan Ilchulbong tuff cone, rising out of the ocean, a dramatic landscape; and Mount Halla, the highest in Korea, with its waterfalls, multi-shaped rock formations, and lake-filled crater. The site, of outstanding aesthetic beauty, also bears testimony to the history of the planet, its features and processes.

From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).

Key Facts

Facts from Wikidata Q495733 (CC0).

UNESCO's Description

The Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty form a collection of 40 tombs scattered over 18 locations. Built over five centuries, from 1408 to 1966, the tombs honoured the memory of ancestors, showed respect for their achievements, asserted royal authority, protected ancestral spirits from evil and provided protection from vandalism. Spots of outstanding natural beauty were chosen for the tombs which typically have their back protected by a hill as they face south toward water and, ideally, layers of mountain ridges in the distance. Alongside the burial area, the royal tombs feature a ceremonial area and an entrance. In addition to the burial mounds, associated buildings that are an integral part of the tombs include a T-shaped wooden shrine, a shed for stele, a royal kitchen and a guards’ house, a red-spiked gate and the tomb keeper’s house. The grounds are adorned on the outside with a range of stone objects including figures of people and animals. The Joseon Tombs completes the 5,000 year history of royal tombs architecture in the Korean peninsula.

From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).

Key Facts

Facts from Wikidata Q495276 (CC0).

UNESCO's Description

Namhansanseong was designed as an emergency capital for the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910), in a mountainous site 25 km south-east of Seoul. Built and defended by Buddhist monk-soldiers, it could accommodate 4,000 people and fulfilled important administrative and military functions. Its earliest remains date from the 7th century, but it was rebuilt several times, notably in the early 17th century in anticipation of an attack from the Sino-Manchu Qing dynasty. The city embodies a synthesis of the defensive military engineering concepts of the period, based on Chinese and Japanese influences, and changes in the art of fortification following the introduction from the West of weapons using gunpowder. A city that has always been inhabited, and which was the provincial capital over a long period, it contains evidence of a variety of military, civil and religious buildings and has become a symbol of Korean sovereignty.

From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).

History

Namhansanseong now lies atop the mountain Namhansan. This location made it highly defensible; even before the fortress's construction, a number of defensive structures existed in the area. A 2005 archaeological dig found a fortress called Jujangseong that dated to the 57–935 Silla period. During the Goryeo period, a fortification existed in the area that was called "Gwangju Fortress" (광주성; 廣州城).

The fortress's construction was motivated by the 1624 Yi Gwal's Rebellion and 1627 Later Jin invasion of Joseon. King Injo ordered Yi Sŏ to construct it. Buddhist monk-soldiers were recruited from all eight provinces for the task. Over time, features were continually added to the fortress; it eventually became the best-equipped in Korea.

Key Facts

Facts from Wikidata Q562529 (CC0).

Visiting Namhansanseong

Gwangju (광주, 廣州) is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea about 6 km southeast of eastern Seoul. Gwangju is an exciting city filled with diverse activities that are hard to find elsewhere in the Seoul metropolitan area. Blending traditional agriculture with modern industry, it offers a unique atmosphere and beautiful mountains and valleys, ideal for hiking and camping year-round. In winter, you can even enjoy skiing at a local resort, adding to the variety of outdoor activities available. The city also features a pottery park where visitors can experience the charm of traditional Korean ceramics, making it popular for family outings and cultural experiences. With a significant foreign presence, Gwangju has a multicultural vibe, creating a lively city where tradition and modernity, nature and culture, come together in harmony.

Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Gwangju (Gyeonggi) (CC BY-SA 4.0).

UNESCO's Description

Located in the mountainous mid-western region of the Republic of Korea, this property comprises eight archaeological sites dating from 475 to 660 CE, including the Gongsanseong fortress and royal tombs at Songsan-ri related to the capital, Ungjin (present day Gongju), the Busosanseong Fortress and Gwanbuk-ri administrative buildings, the Jeongnimsa Temple, the royal tombs in Neungsan-ri and the Naseong city wall related to the capital, Sabi (now Buyeo), the royal palace at Wanggung-ri and the Mireuksa Temple in Iksan related to the secondary Sabi capital. Together, these sites represent the later period of the Baekje Kingdom – one of the three earliest kingdoms on the Korean peninsula (18 BCE to 660 CE) - during which time they were at the crossroads of considerable technological, religious (Buddhist), cultural and artistic exchanges between the ancient East Asian kingdoms in Korea, China and Japan.

From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).

History

In Baekje, an ancient kingdom of Korea that flourished for 678 years from 18 BC to 660 AD, interaction with East Asian countries enabled the development of its own unique culture, differing from those of the other two neighboring kingdoms of Goguryeo and Silla. Baekje had been founded on a small area on the banks of the Han River, which is the present-day Seoul (Hanseong), in 18 BC, with population migrating from Goguryeo, and over the years the city was enlarged toward the southwestern part of the country. It became famous culturally and economically. Eventually wars broke out among the three kingdoms, and in the battle Goguryeo won and occupied Baekje, the capital of the Baekje Kingdom.

Key Facts

Facts from Wikidata Q20650483 (CC0).

UNESCO's Description

The Sansa are Buddhist mountain monasteries located throughout the southern provinces of the Korean Peninsula. The spatial arrangement of the seven temples that comprise the property, established from the 7th to 9th centuries, present common characteristics that are specific to Korea – the ‘madang’ (open courtyard) flanked by four buildings (Buddha Hall, pavilion, lecture hall and dormitory). They contain a large number of individually remarkable structures, objects, documents and shrines. These mountain monasteries are sacred places, which have survived as living centres of faith and daily religious practice to the present.

From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).

Background

There are several philosophical reasons why temples in Korea are usually located in mountains. The first reason is mountain worship. As indigenous mountain worship was absorbed into Buddhism, famous mountains were named after Buddha and Bodhisattva and temples were built there. The second reason is to protect the nation and uphold Buddhist law. For example, the establishment of Beomeosa in Busan which is close to Japan can be seen as a strong will to defend the country. The third reason is transcendence. Buddhism was seen as a means of guiding the secular world and harmony with nature was emphasized.

Key Facts

Facts from Wikidata Q55306582 (CC0).

UNESCO's Description

The property comprises six component parts located along the southwestern, southern, and western coasts of the Republic of Korea on the eastern shore of the Yellow Sea. Originally inscribed in 2021 and extended in 2026, it encompasses a diverse system of tidal flat ecosystems, including estuarine, open-coast, archipelagic, and semi-enclosed tidal flats shaped by a complex combination of geological, oceanographic, and climatic conditions. These highly productive coastal wetlands support exceptional biodiversity, with 2,454 recorded plant and animal species, including a remarkable diversity of tidal-flat invertebrates and 53 species endemic to the Yellow Sea. Situated at the heart of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, the property provides critical feeding, breeding, and stopover habitats for migratory waterbirds, supporting 216 bird species, including 24 globally threatened species and important populations of species such as the Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Far Eastern Curlew, and Black-faced Spoonbill. The property also supports 114 fish species, two species of marine mammals, and diverse communities of benthic diatoms, macroalgae, halophytes, and macrobenthos.

From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).

Description

marine macroalgae, 47 endemic and 5 endangered marine invertebrate species have been recorded in the protected areas.

The tidal flats developed after the Last Glacial Maximum, in an interplay of rivers depositing the sediments and their dispersal by tidal currents, wave action, and wind-induced currents. They formed especially in the estuaries of large rivers and in the island coasts. As a result of monsoon climate, erosion and chemical weathering in the coast is taking place in winter while the deposition of sediment is taking place in summer.

Key Facts

Facts from Wikidata Q107715736 (CC0).

UNESCO's Description

This serial property includes archaeological cemetery sites with burial mounds attributed to the Gaya Confederacy, which developed in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula from the 1st to the 6th century CE. Through their geographical distribution and landscape characteristics, types of burials, and grave goods, the cemeteries attest to the distinctive Gaya political system in which polities existed as autonomous political equals while sharing cultural commonalities. The introduction of new forms of tombs and the intensification of the spatial hierarchy in the tumuli sites reflect the structural changes experienced by Gaya society during its history.

From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).