Korea’s heritage sites in spotlight as UNESCO meeting in Busan nears
The Korean delegation celebrates as Busan is confirmed as host of the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee at UNESCO headquarters in Paris in this 2025 file photo. Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service
The 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee comes to Busan this July, marking Korea's first time hosting the premier global forum on heritage preservation. The milestone gathering is anticipated to cement the nation's leadership in protecting and inscribing culturally and historically important sites, while spotlighting its cultural diplomacy on the world stage.
This annual session, running from the opening ceremony on July 19 to its closing on July 29 at the BEXCO convention center, will be the first hosted by Korea in its 38 years with the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.
Some 3,000 delegates from 196 countries will converge under one roof to decide which iconic sites will be selected. Korea, serving a four-year term as chair country for the UNESCO World Heritage Committee through 2027, will have a special opportunity to shine as host.
"Korea stepping up as the World Heritage Committee's chair nation and a core player leading on preservation and interpretation carries huge weight for our global leadership," Huh Min, chief of Korea Heritage Service (KHS), said at a recent press conference in Seoul.
"The experience and networks we'll build as chair will prove powerful assets for future wins in listings and interpretation, plus smoothing out conflicts ahead," he added.
Korea Heritage Service chief Huh Min / Yonhap
Korea earned its first World Heritage listings in 1995 with Jongmyo Shrine, the royal ancestral shrine of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty; Seokguram Grotto and Bulguk Temple; and Haein Temple's Janggyeong Panjeon, the depositories for the Tripitaka Koreana woodblocks.
The country has 17 sites in total, 15 cultural and two natural.
KHS plans to promote Korea both within and outside the venue. Huh said the committee "will go beyond a static meeting to become a living festival itself," adding it "will be a historic moment to showcase cultural powerhouse Korea to the world."
Aside from Korea's 17 recognized sites, Korea has a list of heritage sites seeking UNESCO recognition, and they will be promoted during the July meeting in Busan. Below is a compiled list of heritage sites vying for UNESCO inscription.
Getbol tidal flats in Goheung, South Jeolla Province / Courtesy of World Heritage Promotion Team of Korean Tidal Flats
Getbol, Korean tidal flats, Phase Ⅱ
Already listed as UNESCO Natural World Heritage, the 48th World Heritage Committee in Busan will reveal the evaluation of Phase II, which would expand the listing to include the tidal flats of Muan, Yeosu and Goheung in South Jeolla Province, and Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, while enlarging buffer zones from the original Phase I sites to broaden coverage.
Phase I, which was inscribed in 2021, covers five "getbol" or tidal flat sites along Korea’s southwest coast: Seocheon, Gochang, Sinan, Boseong and Suncheon. The sites were recognized as key stopovers for migratory birds and were praised by UNESCO for their unique geology and ecology.
The committee stated, "This property represents one of the most important and meaningful habitats for the conservation of biodiversity and especially, it has international importance as a major stopover site for globally endangered migratory waterbirds in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway."
The site supports rich biodiversity, recording more than 2,100 plant and animal species, including 102 migratory birds, 47 endemic species, five endangered marine invertebrates and 27 threatened waterbirds. By extending the areas through Phase II, Korea aims to better protect the tidal flats that are critical to migratory bird habitats and the broader coastal ecosystem.
Capital fortifications of Hanyang / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
Capital Fortifications of Hanyang
The Capital Fortifications of Hanyang are defensive walls built to protect Joseon’s capital, Hanyang (now Seoul) over 600 years ago. They have officially entered the process of being considered for UNESCO World Heritage status.
These fortifications represent the height of Korea’s defensive capabilities and reflect a highly advanced construction tradition unique to Northeast Asia.
The nomination dossier explains that the Hanyangdoseong City Wall, Bukhansanseong Fortress and Tangchundaeseong Defense Wall together form a vast, interconnected network that illustrates how the Joseon capital was protected throughout the centuries. If approved, the Capital Fortifications of Hanyang will become Korea’s 18th World Heritage site.
Sarira Stupa at the Hoeam Temple Site in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of Yangju City
Hoeam Temple Site in Yangju
The Hoeam Temple Site in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province is one of Korea’s most significant Buddhist monastery ruins and preserves the foundations of a vast 14th‑century Seon (Zen) temple that once included about 70 buildings, along with stone pagodas, lanterns and steles.
The site offers a rare look into the layout and daily life of a large‑scale monastery bridging the late Goryeo (918-1392) and early Joseon dynasties.
What sets Hoeam Temple Site apart is its remarkable record of how Seon Buddhism spread and was practiced across 14th‑century East Asia. Its excavated remains reveal how monastic life was structured, providing a vivid physical record of Buddhist culture and architecture.
Added to Korea’s World Heritage Tentative Priority List last year, Hoeam Temple Site is now a top candidate for full nomination and is undergoing preliminary review by UNESCO and its advisory body, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).
Refugee housing in Ami‑dong, Busan / Courtesy of Busan Metropolitan City
Sites of Busan Wartime Capital
Busan’s legacy as South Korea’s wartime “refuge capital” has taken a major leap toward possible UNESCO recognition. The “Site of Busan Wartime Capital” is a collection of sites linked to Busan’s role as the provisional capital during the 1950-53 Korean War that was added last year to Korea’s UNESCO World Heritage Tentative Priority List last year, making it one of the country’s top‑tier candidates for full nomination.
It pulls together nine key locations that trace how Busan kept the Republic of Korea functioning for over 1,000 days during the war. These include temporary government buildings, the provisional presidential residence, refugee housing in Ami‑dong and offices that hosted foreign aid and international missions.
Heritage experts argue the ensemble powerfully captures the experience of a city that became a last‑ditch shelter for displaced citizens, a hub for emergency governance and a center for international humanitarian cooperation.
Authorities see Busan’s wartime heritage as a rare physical record of how a nation preserved its institutions and social fabric under extreme pressure, while also reflecting the broader dynamics of Cold War conflict, displacement and solidarity.
Upo Wetland in Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang Province / Courtesy of South Gyeongsang Provincial Government
Other sites on UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List
Upo Wetland, the largest natural inland wetland in Korea, is prized for its rich biodiversity, ancient origins and striking seasonal beauty.
Located in Changnyeong County, South Gyeongsang Province, it covers about 2.3 square kilometers and sits along the Nakdong River, forming a complex riverine ecosystem that has remained largely intact for thousands of years.
The site has been recognized since 1998 as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, underscoring its role as a key habitat for migratory birds and wetland species. It is home to around 1,500 species of plants and animals, including more than 10 endangered species such as the hooded crane and falcated teal. It is also a rich archaeological site, with some dating back roughly 7,500 years.
Dinosaur footprint fossils in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province / Courtesy of South Jeolla Provincial Government
Also included on the tentative list are sites with dinosaur fossils throughout the Southern seacoast, which holds the world's largest Cretaceous-era dinosaur footprint sites.
The sprawling area spans Haenam, Boseong, Hwasun, Yeosu and Goseong, featuring everything from giant sauropod prints and Asia's oldest pterosaur tracks to the oldest known webbed bird footprints.
The Boseong site is famous for fossilized dinosaur eggs, including a nearly perfect nest of eggs about 1.5 meters in diameter. The Goseong site is notable for the sheer number and variety of fossils, including more than 4,000 footprints. The Hwasun site features 20 long tracks left by carnivorous dinosaurs, while in Yeosu, fossils are spread across Cretaceous rock layers on five islands. The area is best known for an 84‑meter‑long trackway, the longest dinosaur footprint trail in the world.
Mount Seorak in Gangwon Province / Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service
Mount Seorak Nature Reserve, located in the eastern part of the Korean Peninsula, includes many peaks over 1,200 meters high, including Daecheong Peak at 1,708 meters. The rugged granite forms dramatic ridges and deep valleys, giving the area outstanding scenic value.
Ecologically, the reserve is one of Korea’s richest habitats, including roughly 495 species of birds and mammals. It is home to endangered animals like the grey‑faced buzzard and musk deer, along with rare fish and plants.
Combined with historic Buddhist temples such as Baekdam Temple and Sinheung Temple, Soraksan is recognized by UNESCO as a tentative World Heritage property, reflecting its dual value as a landscape of exceptional natural beauty and a key conservation area in East Asia.
Tourists experience traditional salt production at a farm in Jeungdo township in Sinan, South Jeolla Province in this undated photo. Courtesy of Sinan County
Korea’s salt farms, especially in Sinan and Yeonggwang counties in South Jeolla Province, date to the late Joseon Dynasty, when Japan’s solar salt technique replaced the older “parched salt” method of boiling seawater.
Located along the tidal flats of the west coast, these saltworks benefit from sunlight, wind and mudflats that produce mineral-dense sea salt.
The salt farms, composed of reservoirs, evaporation and crystallization ponds, and brine tanks called haeju, function across ecological and cultural boundaries. They serve as habitats for fish and migratory birds, purify water, and represent Korea’s balance of nature and craftsmanship. Despite modern advances, their traditional production methods endure as living industrial heritage.
Gangjin, South Jeolla Province, is home to 188 kilns — the largest concentration in Korea. The kilns showcase the refinement of Korea’s signature celadon, celebrated for its luminous “kingfisher” hue and intricate inlay techniques. These kiln clusters stand as testaments to Goryeo craftsmanship.
Naganeupseong Folk Village in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province / Courtesy of Suncheon City
Naganeupseong, a historic village in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, is one of Korea’s best‑preserved Joseon‑era administrative towns, with an intact fortress, government office and thatch‑roofed homes, which together reflect the spatial order, Confucian ideals and everyday life of a traditional town.
Its cultural significance is strengthened by its living traditions, including nongak (community band music, dance and ritual), pansori (musical storytelling), communal rituals and seasonal customs, making it a rare example of a historic village where architecture, landscape and intangible heritage continue to coexist.
Oeam Village in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, is a remarkably well-preserved Joseon Dynasty clan settlement that serves as a "living museum," where the architectural harmony and cultural significance is defined by its high degree of integrity, highlighted by a massive 6,000-meter network of stone walls and a sophisticated artificial waterway system that reflects the eco-friendly engineering of the era.
The Ancient Mountain Fortresses of Central Korea comprises a strategic cluster of seven representative sites in North Chungcheong Province, demonstrating sophisticated integration of rugged topography and riverine transport routes. Spanning from the ancient era to the modern period, these fortifications serve as exceptional evidence of evolving military engineering, showcasing unique construction techniques that facilitated cultural interaction between kingdoms like Goguryeo and Silla, as well as neighboring civilizations like China's Tang Dynasty.
Unju Temple, located in a mountainous valley in Hwasun County in South Jeolla Province, is famed for its stone relics, including 141 pagodas and 115 Buddha statues. Dating back to the early Goryeo Dynasty, the temple site also features an ancient star‑map configuration and one of the oldest known astronomical heritage sites of its kind.