Increase Historical and Cultural Cities and Reduce Restrictions... Partial Amendment to Related Enforcement Decree

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] A legal amendment has been made to preserve ancient capitals (古都, old cities) well while minimizing the inconveniences that come with it. The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 23rd that it has implemented a partial amendment to the "Enforcement Decree of the Special Act on the Preservation and Promotion of Ancient Capitals," which includes these provisions.

According to the amendment, new designation criteria for ancient capitals have been established. The criteria for ancient capitals now designate areas as "former capitals or temporary capitals of a specific period, or political and cultural centers of a specific period with well-preserved related tangible and intangible heritage, having great historical value," allowing for additional preservation and promotion of historical and cultural cities. Previously, only four cities?Gyeongju, Buyeo, Gongju, and Iksan?were classified as ancient capitals.

The amendment also adds provisions allowing minor activities in ancient capital preservation and promotion areas. Minor activities refer to land excavation for the development of groundwater for agricultural or fishery use. Going forward, the review by the Ancient Capital Preservation and Promotion Area Deliberation Committee will be omitted, reducing the civil complaint processing period to 10 days (previously 30 days).

A Cultural Heritage Administration official stated, "Through this legal amendment, we expect to expand the policy for preserving and promoting historical cities as ancient capitals and to contribute to alleviating inconveniences for civil petitioners through regulatory relaxation," adding, "We will continue proactive administration to improve the ancient capital preservation and promotion policy and expand regulatory relaxation policies."