Seeking Preservation and Utilization Strategies for the Bangudae Petroglyphs

National Heritage Administration Town Hall Meeting
"Listening to the Voice of Ulsan"

A forum will be held to discuss the preservation and utilization strategies for the Bangudae Petroglyphs, which have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Yonhap News Agency

The National Heritage Administration announced on July 30 that it will host a town hall meeting titled "Bangudae Petroglyphs, Listening to the Voice of Ulsan" at 2 p.m. on August 1 at the Ulsan Exhibition and Convention Center (UECO). The meeting will review the preservation and management direction of the Ulsan petroglyphs, which were recently added to the World Heritage List, and discuss how to utilize them as local cultural and tourism resources.

Participants will discuss the progress of the World Heritage inscription process and future support plans. They will also explore ways to revitalize the local economy, taking the World Heritage inscription as an opportunity. The event will be attended by Heo Min, the head of the National Heritage Administration, who will listen to the voices of key stakeholders and citizens. A representative from the National Heritage Administration explained, "We will discuss effective ways to utilize and share the value of the World Heritage in harmony with the local community."

The Bangudae Petroglyphs, which consist of the National Treasures "Bangudae Petroglyphs in Daegok-ri, Ulju" and "Cheonjeon-ri Inscriptions and Petroglyphs in Ulju," are masterpieces of prehistoric culture on the Korean Peninsula. At the World Heritage Committee meeting held this month at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, they were recognized as "unique evidence proving the tradition of petroglyphs that continued for about 6,000 years since prehistoric times" and inscribed on the World Heritage List. However, due to recent heavy rainfall, the Bangudae Petroglyphs in Daegok-ri, located along the Daegokcheon stream, have once again been submerged, highlighting the urgent need for preservation measures.