The prehistoric masterpiece, the "Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream," left in the Bangucheon area of Ulsan, has been officially inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
On July 12 at 10:00 a.m. (5:00 p.m. Korean time), the city of Ulsan officially announced that the "Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream" were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France. The official inscription was confirmed at 10:23 a.m. (5:23 p.m. Korean time).
Mayor Kim Dookyum and County Governor Lee Soongeol attended the meeting in person, witnessing this historic moment of inscription and receiving support and congratulations from numerous committee member countries.
The newly inscribed "Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream" constitute a single heritage site that includes the "Cheonjeonri Myeongmun and Rock Engravings in Ulju" and the "Bangudae Petroglyphs in Daegokri, Ulju," both designated as National Treasures. The site covers approximately a 3-kilometer stretch of the Bangucheon area, which is also designated as a scenic site.
Cheonjeonri Myeongmun and Rock Engravings in Ulju.
This inscription marks Korea's 17th World Heritage site (15 cultural heritage sites and 2 natural heritage sites) and is especially significant as it is the oldest heritage site in the country.
The inscription process was not easy. After being placed on the World Heritage Tentative List in 2010, there have been 15 years of meticulous research and preparation, rigorous evaluations by the World Heritage Centre and ICOMOS (the advisory and evaluation body of UNESCO), and on-site inspections. As a result, the site received a "recommendation for inscription" in May of this year, and finally, the official inscription was confirmed in July.
The World Heritage Committee evaluated the "Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream" as follows: ▲ The realistic depictions and unique compositions, based on exceptional powers of observation, demonstrate the artistry of the people who lived on the Korean Peninsula. The rare subject matter, which includes various whales and key stages of whale hunting, is a masterpiece that expresses the creativity of prehistoric peoples. ▲ The site is a unique piece of evidence demonstrating a rock engraving tradition that continued for about 6,000 years from prehistoric times, and it encapsulates the cultural development of the people living along the southeastern coast of the Korean Peninsula.
Bangudae Petroglyphs in Daegokri, Ulju.
The city of Ulsan announced that, with the inscription of the Bangucheon Petroglyphs as a World Heritage site, it will not only promote the site internationally but also strengthen systematic measures for its preservation and utilization.
Mayor Kim Dookyum stated, "The Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream are a source of pride for Ulsan and a precious heritage representing prehistoric culture on the Korean Peninsula. As a city that now embraces a World Heritage site, Ulsan will do its utmost to promote its value to the world and to ensure its preservation and effective use."
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