Gimhae City in Gyeongnam, home to the Daeseong-dong Gaya Tumuli Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has been selected for the '2026 World Heritage Utilization Project' hosted by the National Heritage Administration, securing a total of 338 million won in national and provincial funding.
On the 19th, the city announced that three projects had been selected for the grant: the 2026 World Heritage Festival, the 2026 World Heritage Promotion Support Project, and the 2026 World Heritage Utilization Program.
The 'World Heritage Festival' will be jointly organized by seven cities and counties with Gaya Tumuli Complexes inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Daeseong-dong Tumuli Complex in Gimhae, with a total project budget of 2.9 billion won.
The value of the Gaya Tumuli Complexes will be shared with people around the world by developing a variety of cultural and artistic content, such as excavation experiences, exhibitions of the Gaya Tumuli Complexes, and interactive programs with astronomers.
The 'World Heritage Promotion Support Project' aims to create content and an archive that can be continuously used to promote the Gaya Tumuli Complexes.
The seven local governments with Gaya Tumuli Complexes will collaborate to produce curated goods that reflect the outstanding and universal value of the sites, operate photo zones and themed pop-up spaces, and run interpreter training programs.
The 'World Heritage Utilization Program: Daeseong-dong Tumuli Complex Night Stroll' is a history exploration and art experience program set against the backdrop of the Daeseong-dong Tumuli Complex in Gimhae.
Programs include 'Starlit Night on Aeguji Hill,' a meditation session at the tumuli complex; 'Daeseong Mystery Chasers,' a team-based mystery-solving activity; and 'Sunset Concert at Daeseong-dong Tumuli Complex,' which combines art performances with artifact experience events.
The city plans to use the grant funding to implement projects totaling 550 million won, laying the groundwork to widely promote the value of the Daeseong-dong Tumuli Complex.
Song Wonyoung, Director of the Daeseong-dong Tumuli Museum, stated, "With this selection, we will be able to further promote the value of the Gaya Tumuli Complexes as World Heritage and present a variety of programs that both citizens and people around the world can enjoy. We will do our utmost to spread the significance of World Heritage."
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