Ulsan Draws Bowstring... Promotes World Archery Tournament, Korea Archery Association Also Hosting

Four Archery Paintings in the Petroglyphs of Bangucheon

"Dating Back to the Prehistoric Era"‥Promotion of Archery Center Construction

Ulsan City has embarked on the globalization of archery.

On the 25th, Ulsan City announced that it will join forces with the Korea Gungdo Association to promote the globalization of Gungdo (traditional Korean archery).

At 3 p.m. on the same day, Ulsan City and the Korea Gungdo Association signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen and revitalize Gungdo capabilities in South Korea and Ulsan City at the Municipal Munsu Gungdo Hall, attended by Kim Doo-gyeom, Mayor of Ulsan, and Kim Chang-soon, President of the Korea Gungdo Association.

Ulsan Mayor Kim Du-gyeom is drawing a bowstring.

Through this agreement, Ulsan City plans to inform the world that the petroglyphs of archery found in Ulsan’s Banggucheon, which include four prehistoric archery drawings, are the origin of the bow.

They plan to develop Ulsan into a Gungdo city by hosting the “Banggucheon Petroglyph Archery World Championship.” According to the agreement, Ulsan City will actively cooperate with the Korea Gungdo Association in the construction of the South Korea Gungdo Center. Once the construction of the South Korea Gungdo Center is completed, the Korea Gungdo Association will relocate its headquarters to Ulsan City.

Additionally, the two organizations promised to actively cooperate in hosting the “Banggucheon Petroglyph Archery World Championship” and to actively support the mutual exchange of professionals to strengthen South Korea’s Gungdo capabilities.

Gungdo is an ancient traditional martial art of the Korean Peninsula, appearing in ancient texts such as the “Hunting Scene” in the Goguryeo Muyongchong tomb and the “Weizhi Dongyi Zhuan” in the Records of the Three Kingdoms. It was designated as National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 142 in 2020.

The “Banggucheon Petroglyphs” in Ulsan contain ancient archery drawings from prehistoric times. Along with efforts to register these petroglyphs as a UNESCO World Heritage site, scholars and others have raised awareness of the need for systematic support from the national and local governments to actively inherit and internationally spread Gungdo, a unique intangible heritage of the Korean people.

Ulsan City plans to officially launch a research project in May to establish Ulsan’s status and value as the origin of the bow on the Korean Peninsula, facilitate the relocation of the Korea Gungdo Association to Ulsan, and systematically and professionally study the hosting of the Banggucheon Petroglyph Archery World Championship through a Gungdo revitalization plan research service.