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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

UNESCO inspects preparations for World Heritage Committee session in Busan

UNESCO officials visited Korea last week to review preparations for an upcoming meeting of the World Heritage Committee in the southeastern port city of Busan, the heritage authority said Monday. A four-member team conducted the inspection from Monday through Thursday to inspect Busan's BEXCO convention center and nearby accommodations, according to the Korea Heritage Service (KHS). As part of the visit, officials discussed safety risk factors and reviewed visa issuance, transportation and other support measures for participants. The inspection, the second such review following the initial inspection in January, comes ahead of the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, an intergovernmental body that reviews the nominations and conservation of World Heritage sites, which will take place from July 19-29 in Busan. It marks the first time Korea will host such a meeting since joining the World Heritage Convention in 1988. Last month, the KHS unveiled the official emblem for the event, incorporating the tiled roof of the main hall of the Jongmyo Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Se

May 4, 2026By Yonhap
UNESCO inspects preparations for World Heritage Committee session in Busan

Korea Heritage Service to transform Joseon royal tombs into vibrant public landscapes

Seeking to transform the solemn air of royal burial grounds into a vibrant cultural experience, the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) will launch a months-long series of public programs across five Joseon Dynasty tomb sites in Seoul. Beginning May 16, the initiative will feature guided tours and traditional performances at the UNESCO World Heritage sites, part of a broader effort to reimagine these centuries-old landscapes as accessible public assets. The program series, titled "Exploring Joseon Royal Tombs," is organized by the Central District Office of the Palace and Tomb Management Division and covers Taegangneung, Uireung, Seonjeongneung, Heonineung and Jeongneung. The schedule opens May 16 at Taegangneung with a forest trail walk centered on the story of Queen Munjeong and King Myeongjong, paired with a royal genealogy card-making activity. On June 20, the Uireung tomb site will host a guided exploration of the lives of King Gyeongjong and Queen Seonui, culminating in a participatory performance that blurs the line between history and theater. In a nod toward social equity, the KHS has

Apr 28, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Korea Heritage Service to transform Joseon royal tombs into vibrant public landscapes

Gov't plans events for 150th anniversary of Kim Koo’s birth

The government has finalized a slate of events marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of independence activist Kim Koo, which UNESCO has designated as a commemorative anniversary year for 2026, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok announced Monday. The prime minister presided over the first meeting of the Lee Jae Myung administration’s National Patriots and Veterans Affairs Committee at Government Complex Seoul Tuesday, where officials approved a plan organized around three pillars: “Reilluminating Values,” “Integration and Solidarity,” and “Memory and Succession.” The slogan “My Wish, Culture of Peace” — drawn from Kim Koo’s writings — will be applied uniformly across the commemorative events. Planned events include an international academic conference scheduled for July or August, a joint symposium between the Kim Koo Museum & Library and the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History in October, a Gwanghwamun cultural week in August and a Baekbeom Award ceremony also in August. The government said it will launch a comprehensive veterans and patriotism culture po

Apr 28, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Gov't plans events for 150th anniversary of Kim Koo’s birth

Ancient bronze bell gains National Treasure status

A towering bronze bell cast for a king’s prayers more than five centuries ago has been elevated to Korea’s highest cultural status, officials said Thursday, in a move that underscores renewed efforts to safeguard the nation’s artistic legacy. The Korea Heritage Service said the "Bronze Bell of Bongseonsa Temple in Namyangju," long designated as a treasure since 1963, has now been upgraded to National Treasure status. The bell was commissioned by King Yejong, the eighth monarch of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty, in honor of his father and has remained at its original site since its creation. The heritage service said the bell represents the culmination of early Joseon Dynasty design, blending elements of Chinese bell forms with distinctly Korean decorative patterns. Its inscription, composed by Kang Huimaeng and written by Jeong Nanjong, details its origins, artisans and purpose. Also designated as treasures are a 13th-century celadon work, the "Celadon Inlaid Dish with Twin Dragons and Chrysanthemum Design,” and the “Portrait of Yu Hyo-geol and Chest,” a Joseon-era painting li

Apr 23, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
Ancient bronze bell gains National Treasure status

Korea Times opens photo contest of heritage sites across country

The Korea Times, in collaboration with the Korea Heritage Service, is hosting the Discover Korea's World Heritage photo contest, ahead of the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to be held in Busan from July 19 to 29. To commemorate the prestigious international gathering, The Korea Times invites non-Korean nationals from around the world to share their special moments captured at Korea's magnificent heritage sites. Participants are required to choose a photograph of one of Korea's 17 designated UNESCO World Heritage sites or one of the 12 sites on the Tentative List currently being promoted by the Korean government for future inscription. New photos are not a must and participants are welcome to submit existing photos from their gallery or collection, as long as it is an original photo taken by the person submitting it. Along with the photo taken at a heritage site, the participants are required to include a short story about their visit to the site. They need to upload the photo on their public social media account with the following hashtags — #thekoreatimes #korea

Apr 20, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Korea Times opens photo contest of heritage sites across country

Exploring traditional Korean houses around the country

Demand is growing for affordable ways to relax and enjoy a day out. Seochon in central Seoul is a popular place for day trips within the city, where people can stroll in an atmospheric neighborhood and visit traditional Korean houses and indulge in their special atmosphere. Places like the Hong Geon-ik House and the Yi Sang-beom House offer free opportunities to soak in the calm and tranquility of Korea's historic domestic architecture. But both within and outside the capital region, there are many more spots that offer similar opportunities. In Gye-dong, Jongno District, the former home of Korean artist Bae Ryeom has been opened to the public. Built in what is now recognized as a classical layout for Seoul's city-style hanok, the house was converted for public use in 2017 and now hosts small-scale exhibitions and cultural programs. Hongik University, known for its strengths in art and design, has been entrusted with oversight and management of the building. Not far away in Gahoe-dong is the Baek In-je House. Built in 1913, the traditional hanok reflects the era of its construction thro

Apr 18, 2026By Hankookilbo
Exploring traditional Korean houses around the country

Korea’s heritage sites in spotlight as UNESCO meeting in Busan nears

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 conferenc

Apr 15, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Korea’s heritage sites in spotlight as UNESCO meeting in Busan nears

Joseon’s first global symbols set for Seoul homecoming

Five ceremonial flags that represented the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) during its historic debut on the world stage are set to return to Korea this winter following a comprehensive restoration process in the United States, according to video game developer Riot Games Monday. The project, funded by Riot Games, focuses on five specific banners, including the "Hogi" (tiger flag) and "Jujakgi" (red phoenix flag) that were first unveiled at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. These artifacts have been housed at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (Penn Museum) for more than 130 years. Unlike typical cases where artifacts are brought to Korea for treatment, these flags will undergo conservation directly at their current location in the U.S. to ensure their stability before the long journey home. "The conservation process will be completed locally in the U.S., and the National Palace Museum of Korea will be the primary entity responsible for bringing these flags back in December," an official from Riot Games said. "Once they arrive, the National Pa

Apr 13, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Joseon’s first global symbols set for Seoul homecoming

S. Korea seeks UNESCO heritage status for ginseng, taekwondo traditions

South Korea has applied for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status for its ginseng culture and is planning a future application for the training culture of its traditional martial art of taekwondo, the heritage authority said Wednesday. The Korea Heritage Service (KHS) said it had submitted a nomination for inscription onto UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for "The Insam Tradition: Knowledge, Skills, and Cultural Practices Related to Ginseng in the Republic of Korea." The ginseng tradition reflects Korea's long-standing belief in health and longevity and includes cultivation and processing techniques, as well as related customs, such as rituals, food preparation and gift giving. It also serves as a symbol of solidarity and community well-being, passed down through practice and education, the agency said. A final decision on the nomination will be made during the 23rd session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2028 after review by the UNESCO Secretariat and evaluation bodi

Apr 1, 2026By Yonhap
S. Korea seeks UNESCO heritage status for ginseng, taekwondo traditions

Traditional tide‑tracking system becomes Korea's Intangible Cultural Heritage

Korea’s centuries-old knowledge of “multtae,” the traditional system for calculating tidal movements, has been officially designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) announced Wednesday. Multtae, literally meaning “tide time” in Korean, refers to the collective knowledge and system used to predict the rise and fall of ocean tides — a vital practice that for centuries has guided coastal life across the Korean Peninsula. It serves both as a calendar of tidal cycles and as a practical science enabling people to anticipate the timing of high and low tides. In Korea, the west coast has a higher tidal range, with up to nine meters in area near Incheon, while the east coast sees the tidal range lower than one meter. The KHS said multtae is a “community transmission” heritage item, without an individual or group deserving recognition, for the knowledge has long been shared and practiced collectively among coastal residents. Historical records trace the use of multtae back to the 12th century. Poet Yi Kyu-bo is believed to have written a

Mar 26, 2026By Park Jin-hai
Traditional tide‑tracking system becomes Korea's Intangible Cultural Heritage
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