"Gyeryongsan, Korea’s Sacred Mountain: Highlighting Its Globally Recognized Fusion of Cultural and Natural Values"
The Gongju Cultural Center in South Chungcheong Province, with support from the provincial government, Gongju City, and Kongju National University, will hold an academic seminar on October 15 at the International Conference Hall of Kongju National University to explore the world heritage value of "Gyeryongsan, Korea’s Sacred Mountain."
According to the center on October 9, this seminar has been organized to lay a solid academic foundation for the inscription of Gyeryongsan as a UNESCO World Mixed Heritage Site.
It is also designed to highlight the complex cultural and natural heritage value of Gyeryongsan, which is regarded as one of Korea’s most significant sacred mountains, and to strengthen the academic arguments for its future nomination as a world heritage site.
The seminar will be moderated by Professor Seo Jeongseok of Kongju National University and will feature five presentations: "The Mixed Heritage Value of Gyeryongsan, Korea’s Sacred Mountain" (Choi Seokwon, former president of Kongju National University); "Geological Features of Gyeryongsan" (Honorary Professor, Kongju National University); "Confucian Cultural Heritage and State Rites of Gyeryongsan" (Lee Haejun, Honorary Professor, Kongju National University); "Landscape and Cultural Heritage Value of Gyeryongsan" (Lee Chanhee, Professor, Kongju National University); and "Poetry and Prose of Gyeryongsan" (Han Changseop, Ph.D., Hoseo University).
The center plans to compile the results of this seminar and, in December, publish a monograph that academically establishes the "Outstanding Universal Value (OUV)" of Gyeryongsan through expanded research on 12 to 13 in-depth topics.
Through this, the center aims to lay the groundwork for officially proposing the complex heritage elements of Gyeryongsan-such as its natural scenery, spiritual culture, and state rituals-to the international community.
Director Lee Ilju stated, "Gyeryongsan is not only a representative mountain of South Chungcheong Province but also a sacred mountain symbolizing the spiritual culture of the Korean people," adding, "As a treasure trove of complex cultural heritage harmonized with the Geumgang River, it possesses values that deserve global attention."
He continued, "As the need for the UNESCO World Mixed Heritage inscription of Gyeryongsan centered on Gongju has been continuously raised, I hope this academic seminar will serve as an opportunity to expand the inscription movement with the participation of both provincial residents and citizens."
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