Bangudae Petroglyphs under water for month, exposing shoddy World Heritage management

Cultural guide Jeong Yun-jeom uses a digital telescope at the Bangudae observatory in Daegok-ri, Eonyang-eup, Ulju County, Ulsan, to locate the parts of the petroglyphs not submerged by flooding, Aug. 12. Korea Times photo by Park Eun-kyung

One month after being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, the petroglyphs of Bangudae Terrace in the southeastern city of Ulsan are under water and poorly managed, leaving locals and visitors questioning whether the ancient site is living up to its global status.

On Aug. 12 in Daegok-ri, Eonyang-eup, Ulsan’s Ulju County, cultural guide Jeong Yun-jeom pointed toward the rock face, now mostly submerged. “See the man looking up at the whale at the very top of the carvings? Only his head is visible above the water,” she said with frustration.

The site has been inundated for more than three weeks due to heavy rains, cutting short the expected tourism boost after its World Heritage designation.

“Visitors initially surged right after the listing, but numbers dropped back to normal within a week because of flooding,” Jeong said, adding that poor facilities, including inadequate restrooms, make it difficult for visitors to stay long.

The water level at Sayeon Dam downstream measured 56.7 meters, leaving the Bangudae Petroglyphs submerged except for the section indicated by a cultural guide in the photo as of Aug. 12. Korea Times photo by Park Eun-kyung

As of Aug. 12, the water level of the downstream Sayeon Dam stood at 56.7 meters, leaving almost all of the petroglyphs underwater except for the uppermost carvings.

Stagnant water has since developed algae blooms, producing a foul odor. “I heard it was submerged, but I didn’t expect it to be this bad,” said Kim Su-cheon, 48, who had traveled from Daegu with his family. “There’s not much else to see here, so coming feels like a waste.”

The Bangudae Petroglyphs, hailed as masterpieces of prehistoric Korean culture, have been submerged since last month’s torrential rains. Long-standing problems such as difficult access and inadequate amenities remain unresolved. Critics argue that urgent preservation and infrastructure measures are needed to match the site’s World Heritage status.

The petroglyphs of Bangudae encompass the national treasures “Petroglyphs of Cheonjeon-ri” and “Petroglyphs of Daegok-ri Bangudae.” The latter begins to flood when the dam’s level exceeds 53 meters and is fully submerged at 57 meters.

According to water data from the Korea Water Resources Corporation, the Sayeon Dam surged from 51.9 meters to 58.5 meters in a single day on July 19 and has remained around 55 meters since, leaving the petroglyphs underwater for the entire month.

Access to the Cheonjeon-ri site, located about 2 kilometers away, has also been cut off. On Aug. 12, the entry bridge was submerged, making the site unreachable.

“Because the bridge is a low-water crossing, it often becomes impassable during rains, and people sometimes get stranded when the water suddenly rises,” said an official at the petroglyph management office.

The Bangudae Petroglyphs in Ulsan are almost entirely submerged and barely visible on Aug. 12. Korea Times photo by Park Eun-kyung

Some visitors expressed anger at the lack of clear notice. “Nowhere on the way here did I see any warning that access was closed,” one tourist said. “It makes me wonder whether the site is being managed properly as a World Heritage property.”

Basic facilities remain inadequate. There are no shops selling drinking water, the nearest toilet lacks proper hand-washing facilities, and the narrow approach roads make parking and passing difficult.

“Stones washed down by rain recently covered the road,” said a local resident in his 50s who requested anonymity. “With the World Heritage Committee meeting set for Busan next year, it’s frustrating to see that after 15 years of pursuing inscription, so little has been done.”

Ulsan City and the Korea Heritage Service have belatedly begun upgrading trails, landscaping and rest areas, but officials admit there is no fundamental solution to deal with the repeated flooding until floodgates are installed at the dam in 2030.

Shin Dong-gi, head of the city’s World Heritage promotion office, said, “Because the Bangudae area is designated as a scenic site, every change requires approval from the Korea Heritage Service, which slows progress. We will act quickly on what can be done immediately, such as increasing guide staff.”

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.