'Sanlim Nokhwa' and 'Jeju 4·3' Records Inscribed on UNESCO Memory of the World Register

World Documentary Heritage Holdings of South Korea Reach Twenty

'Forest Reforestation (山林綠化) Records' and 'Jeju 4·3 Records' will be managed as UNESCO World Documentary Heritage. The National Heritage Agency announced that the 221st UNESCO Executive Board officially approved the inscription of the two records as World Documentary Heritage on the morning of the 11th (local time: afternoon of the 10th).

Photos of Yeongil Bay reclamation from 1973 to 1977

The Forest Reforestation records contain materials documenting the process of reforesting the war-torn land after the Korean War through public-private cooperation. It is regarded as a model case that other developing countries can refer to and serves as an example in international issues such as climate change response and desertification prevention.

Photos of Yeongilman Restoration from 1973 to 1977

The Jeju 4·3 Incident records include testimonies of victims, fact-finding, and reconciliation processes. The Jeju 4·3 Incident refers to the armed conflict between the South Korean Workers' Party guerrillas and suppression forces in Jeju from March 1, 1947, to September 21, 1954, during which many residents were sacrificed in the suppression process. It was the second deadliest event in modern Korean history after the Korean War. The related records are significant globally for raising awareness of human rights and resolving painful past histories through the spirit of reconciliation and coexistence.

The National Heritage Agency decided to pursue the inscription of these two records as World Documentary Heritage after a public contest in February 2023. In November of the same year, they submitted the nomination to UNESCO and received a 'recommendation for inscription' from the UNESCO Records Selection Committee (RSC) and the International Advisory Committee (IAC).

Jeju Provincial Council 4·3 Damage Report Form

With this inscription, South Korea now holds twenty UNESCO World Documentary Heritage items. Previously recognized valuable records include 'Hunminjeongeum (1997)', 'Annals of the Joseon Dynasty (1997)', 'Jikji Simche Yojeol (2001)', 'Seungjeongwon Ilgi (2001)', 'Uigwe of the Joseon Dynasty (2007)', 'Goryeo Tripitaka and Related Woodblocks (2007)', 'Donguibogam (2009)', 'Ilseongnok (2011)', 'May 18 Gwangju Uprising Records (2011)', 'Nanjung Ilgi (2013)', 'Saemaul Undong Records (2013)', 'Korean Confucian Woodblocks (2015)', 'KBS Special Live Broadcast Finding Dispersed Families (2015)', 'Royal Seals and Royal Documents of the Joseon Dynasty (2017)', 'National Debt Repayment Movement Records (2017)', 'Joseon Tongsinsa Records (2017)', 'April 19 Revolution Records (2023)', and 'Donghak Peasant Revolution Records (2023)'.