Before Revision, Restrictions on Cultural Heritage Excavation... Neglect of Buried Cultural Assets
Ahn Ho-young "Establish Legal Basis for Excavation and Preservation of Gaya Cultural Heritage"
The amendment to the "Baekdudaegan Protection Act" (hereinafter referred to as the Baekdudaegan Act) has passed the plenary session of the National Assembly.
According to the office of Ahn Ho-young (Democratic Party of Korea, Jeonbuk Wanju-Jinan-Muju-Jangsu) on the 6th, the amendment to the Baekdudaegan Act includes provisions for excavating buried cultural assets for academic research and relic maintenance purposes in Baekdudaegan protected areas such as Jangsu-gun, Jeonbuk. It establishes a legal basis to ensure the preservation and management of buried cultural assets that were being lost or damaged.
The current law permits the installation of facilities for cultural asset restoration, repair, relocation, and preservation management, but restricts cultural asset excavation activities, which has hindered smooth protection and investigation of buried cultural assets.
Within the Baekdudaegan protected areas, there are buried cultural assets from ancient societies such as the Gaya culture, as well as relics like mountain fortresses and beacon mounds. Even though the need for excavation investigations for research, relic maintenance projects, or preservation and management of lost or damaged cultural assets has increased, there were no legal provisions under the current law, making cultural asset excavation investigations difficult.
Representative Ahn Ho-young stated, "I am grateful that the Baekdudaegan Act, proposed last June, was passed within four months because lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties recognized and agreed on the necessity of the amendment." He added, "Now that a legal basis has been established for excavation investigations for academic research and relic maintenance purposes within Baekdudaegan protected areas, the relevant ministries should promptly prepare follow-up measures."
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