National Heritage Administration Applies for UNESCO World Heritage Listing of "Fortifications of Hanyang"

Final Decision by World Heritage Committee Next Year

The Bukak section of the Hanyang capital fortress wall. Provided by Seoul City

The National Heritage Administration announced on January 30 that it has submitted an application to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre to have the "Fortifications of Hanyang" inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Fortifications of Hanyang are a fortress system built to defend Hanyang, the capital of the Joseon Dynasty. This system includes the main city wall (Hanyangdoseong), which served as the administrative center; Bukhansanseong Fortress (Ipboseong), which was used for military defense; and Tangchundaeseong (Yeongyeolseong), which protected evacuation sites and storage facilities for the people. The fortress system holds universal value as it demonstrates the evolution of the Joseon Dynasty's governance structure and capital defense strategies.

After passing the completeness check by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the application will undergo an on-site inspection and evaluation by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) starting in March. If it is selected for inscription review, the final decision will be made at the 49th session of the World Heritage Committee to be held in 2027.

If inscribed, the "Fortifications of Hanyang" will become South Korea's 18th World Heritage site.

The National Heritage Administration plans to continue working with local governments to demonstrate the universal value of the fortress, promote the preservation of cultural assets, and encourage regional development in pursuit of final inscription.