The Local Government Council for Mission Bases World Heritage Listing (hereinafter referred to as "the Council"), which includes participation from eight local governments across the country, will hold its inaugural ceremony on June 20 in Yangnim-dong, Namgu, Gwangju.
According to Namgu, Gwangju on June 16, the Council is an administrative council-type organization in which eight local governments?Namgu, Gwangju; Jung-gu, Daegu; Cheongju; Gongju; Jeonju; Mokpo; Suncheon; and Gimje?participate together.
The Council aims to have Protestant mission bases across South Korea inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. On this day, the Council will hold its founding general meeting in Yangnim-dong, Namgu, where it will elect its first leader and discuss matters such as mutual cooperation for UNESCO World Heritage inscription.
The reason these eight local governments are joining forces through the Council is that, to date, there have been no cases of Protestant mission history in Asia being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Additionally, the National Heritage Administration has determined that the mission bases across the country are well-preserved, making them worthy candidates for World Heritage inscription.
In fact, Protestant missionary culture spread throughout Asia in the order of India, China, Japan, and Korea. If this UNESCO World Heritage inscription succeeds, Korea's modern Christian mission bases will become the first such case to be listed.
Furthermore, according to the National Heritage Administration's "2021 Research Report on Newly Identified Sites for the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List," the mission bases nationwide have largely preserved their original forms since their establishment, and most major buildings are registered and managed as cultural heritage. This means they are considered to meet the requirements for "authenticity" and "integrity" necessary for World Heritage inscription.
With the launch of the Council imminent, it is expected that the efforts of the eight local governments across the country toward UNESCO World Heritage inscription will accelerate.
First, all local governments plan to complete research studies on their respective mission bases by the end of this year. They also plan to hold international academic conferences with experts from around the world to promote the value of these heritage sites.
An official from the district stated, "If we succeed in having these sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, we plan to develop tourism products that encompass the religion, history, and culture of all eight regions, thereby attracting international tourists. As this is an opportunity to elevate the international status of Korea's Christian missionary culture, we ask for your interest and support."
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