Angkor Thom Revived with Korean Technology: Restoration of Elephant Terrace and Chom Temple

National Heritage Promotion Agency and KOICA Complete Six-Year Project
Beyond Structural Reinforcement: Transferring Advanced Technology to Local Experts

A Little Employee Restoration Site

Korea's cultural heritage preservation technology has revived key sites in Angkor Thom, Cambodia, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The National Heritage Promotion Agency announced on January 20 that it has completed the "Preservation and Restoration Project for Preah Pithu Chom Temple and Elephant Terrace in Angkor Thom," carried out in collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Cambodia's APSARA Authority. This marks the completion of the project six years and three months after it began in October 2019.

The core of this project was the restoration of the Elephant Terrace's high-risk sections (Zones A and C), which were at risk of collapse, as well as the Chom Temple in the Preah Pithu temple group, which had the weakest structural stability. The agency formed a consortium with Korea National University of Cultural Heritage and Hanyang University ERICA Industry-University Cooperation Foundation, deploying Korean-style preservation science technology on-site.

The work went beyond simple hardware restoration. The agency donated advanced restoration equipment to the local site and focused on transferring the know-how to utilize it. Through 27 capacity-building programs, local experts were trained and are now serving as instructors at other heritage sites in Cambodia. The Cambodian research team has achieved "technological self-reliance," enabling them to operate the equipment independently.

Elephant Terrace Zone C after restoration completion

The agency held a symposium at the Sofitel Hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on January 16 to share the results of the project. The event was attended by Kim Changryong, Ambassador of Korea to Cambodia, and Hang Pov, Director General of the APSARA Authority, who confirmed the achievements of bilateral cooperation.

Kim Dongha, Director of Management Planning at the National Heritage Promotion Agency, said, "We will continue to cooperate so that the restored sites can serve as major tourism resources for Angkor Wat."