Passed Format Requirements Review by UNESCO World Heritage Centre
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] Gyeongsangbuk-do announced that the application for UNESCO World Heritage listing of the 'Gaya Tumuli,' which includes the Jisan-dong Tumuli in Goryeong, has passed the 'completeness review' by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
According to Gyeongbuk Province on the 7th, the 'completeness review' by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre is a process to check whether the submitted nomination dossier meets the formal requirements. Passing this review means the application will proceed to the full evaluation process.
The nomination dossier that passes the completeness check by the World Heritage Centre undergoes document review by advisory bodies, on-site inspections, and two rounds of comprehensive discussions from March of that year until the first half of the following year.
Gyeongbuk Province expects that the 'Gaya Tumuli' will go through these procedures starting this month, and the decision on its inscription will be made at the 46th World Heritage Committee meeting scheduled for around July next year.
The 'Gaya Tumuli' are seven tumulus groups from the Gaya confederacy that existed in the southern Korean Peninsula from the 1st to the 6th century. They consist of the Goryeong Jisan-dong Tumuli (Historic Site No. 79) in Gyeongbuk, Gimhae Daeseong-dong Tumuli (Historic Site No. 341), Haman Malyisan Tumuli (Historic Site No. 515), Hapcheon Okjeon Tumuli (Historic Site No. 326), Goseong Songhak-dong Tumuli (Historic Site No. 119), Changnyeong Gyodong and Songhyeon-dong Tumuli (Historic Site No. 514), and Namwon Yugok-ri and Durak-ri Tumuli (Historic Site No. 542) in Jeonbuk, forming a serial heritage.
The nominated 'Gaya Tumuli' represent tumulus groups from each region of the Gaya confederacy. They are unique evidence demonstrating the Gaya civilization, which coexisted with centralized ancient states such as Silla and Baekje while maintaining a distinctive political system as a confederacy. They are considered important sites illustrating one type of ancient East Asian civilization.
In particular, the Goryeong Jisan-dong Tumuli represent Daegaya, which grew by unifying the northern Gaya region in the 5th to 6th centuries. The tumuli are densely clustered on a highly visible hill, creating a magnificent sight. As the central power of the confederacy, they show the status of Daegaya and the peak period of the Gaya confederacy.
If the 'Gaya Tumuli' are inscribed as a World Heritage site, it will be the 15th World Heritage site in Korea following the 'Korean Seowon' (2019), and the 6th in Gyeongsangbuk-do.
Kim Sang-cheol, Director of the Culture, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Gyeongsangbuk-do, said, "The Gaya Tumuli, composed of seven tumulus groups as a serial heritage, require cooperation among related organizations above all for World Heritage inscription," adding, "We will work closely with the Cultural Heritage Administration and others to do our best to ensure that the Gaya Tumuli, including the Goryeong Jisan-dong Tumuli, are inscribed as a World Heritage site."
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