Photo Exhibition Celebrates the Second Anniversary of Gaya Tumuli's World Heritage Inscription
Hapcheon County in South Gyeongsang Province is holding a special photo exhibition titled "Companionship" in the first-floor lobby of Hapcheon County Office until August 14 to commemorate the second anniversary of the inscription of the Gaya Tumuli as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Gaya Tumuli were inscribed as a World Heritage Site on September 24, 2023, in recognition of their status as unique evidence of the Gaya civilization, which maintained a confederate political system and coexisted with neighboring centralized ancient states. The site is acknowledged as an important relic demonstrating a distinctive type of ancient East Asian civilization. In particular, the Okjeon Ancient Tombs in Hapcheon are located on the hills along the Hwanggang River, a major transportation hub, and clearly illustrate the active exchanges that took place between the Gaya political entities and neighboring states.
The exhibition's theme and title, "Companionship," symbolize the historical exchanges and cultural harmony among the seven Gaya tumuli sites jointly inscribed as World Heritage. This exhibition was planned by the local governments of the seven Gaya tumuli sites and the Gaya Tumuli World Heritage Integrated Management Support Group to highlight the cultural uniqueness of ancient Gaya, regional cooperation, and the mutual growth and development between local governments in the Yeongnam and Honam regions.
The exhibited works vividly capture the archaeological significance of the seven Gaya tumuli sites, as well as the Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group in Japan, which existed during the same ancient period. The exhibition is designed to allow the public to appreciate the diversity of East Asian tumulus culture at a glance.
Following its showing at Hapcheon County Office, the special photo exhibition will be held as a traveling exhibition at Changnyeong Museum (August 25 to September 19), Gimhae National Gaya History and Culture Center (September 24), and Gimhae National Museum (September 26).
An official from the county stated, "The Gaya Tumuli are a World Heritage Site that demonstrates not only the significance of Korea's ancient history but also the diversity of East Asian tumulus culture. We hope this special photo exhibition will widely promote the status of the Gaya Tumuli as a World Heritage Site and serve as an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of sustainable preservation and utilization of World Heritage in the future."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
