"Ulsan's Heritage Becomes World Heritage"

Announcement of Vision Following World Heritage Inscription:
Five Strategic Sectors and 22 Key Projects
"Ulsan Declares Its Transformation from Industrial Capital
to a Globally Recognized Cultural City"

On July 15 at 2:30 p.m., the city of Ulsan held an official press conference to announce its vision in celebration of the inscription of the "Bangudae Petroglyphs" as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The event took place at the Press Center on the third floor of City Hall's main building.

This press conference was organized to celebrate the achievement of the Bangudae Petroglyphs' inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the citizens, and to present a mid- to long-term vision for Ulsan's advancement as a cultural city.

At the press conference, the city introduced "five strategic sectors and 22 key projects" that will shape Ulsan's future following the World Heritage inscription.

The five strategic sectors are: ▲World Heritage branding and international cooperation ▲Promotion of cultural tourism ▲Establishment of the Bangudae connectivity network ▲Dissemination of heritage value and enhancement of education ▲Development of a sustainable conservation management system.

Key projects include: △Brand building and promotional campaigns to establish the image of a World Heritage city △Strengthening international standing through joining the League of Historical Cities (LHC) △Construction of the "World Petroglyph Center," a complex facility for research, exhibitions, and education △Development of experiential theme parks, trails, and bicycle paths △Integrated tourism initiatives connecting Bangudae with the city center, industrial sites, and natural landscapes △Improving accessibility through linking trails with public transportation △Establishing awareness of the Neolithic heritage of the petroglyphs through textbook revisions △Development of virtual reality (VR)-based digital educational content and expansion of customized education for different generations △Establishment of a real-time digital conservation management system utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) △Institutionalization of World Heritage impact assessment in line with international standards △Creation of a citizen-participatory conservation culture and training of heritage conservation experts.

Mayor Kim Dukyum stated, "The World Heritage inscription is not merely a commemoration, but a new city vision that opens the future of Ulsan. We will develop Bangudae into a convergence space where culture, tourism, and industry come together, making Ulsan a sustainable future city. Citizens are the true stewards of the World Heritage. Together with the citizens, we will build a participatory cultural city that protects and promotes our heritage."

The "Bangudae Petroglyphs" are a heritage site spanning approximately 3 kilometers in the Daegok-ri and Cheonjeon-ri areas of Ulju-gun. The site is recognized as an unprecedented heritage where traces of humanity spanning 7,000 years?including whaling, archery, abstract patterns, and Silla inscriptions?are concentrated in a single space.

At the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Paris, France, on July 12, the site was described as "a masterpiece that depicts various whales and stages of whaling with the creativity and exceptional observational skills of prehistoric people."

In particular, the committee noted, "The realistic depictions and unique compositions that showcase the artistry of those who lived on the Korean Peninsula prove the site's universal value as heritage," and thus decided on its inscription.