Suwon Microscope by Kim Chung-young (50) Mayor Shim Jae-deok Registers Hwaseong as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

When 'Suwon Fortress' (水原城) found its true name as 'Hwaseong' (華城), Mayor Shim Jae-deok of Suwon began in earnest to promote its registration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At that time, the Cultural Heritage Administration decided in 1996 to submit Korea's representative fortresses and palaces as UNESCO World Heritage Sites scheduled for 1997 registration. There was no disagreement about submitting Changdeokgung Palace as the palace.

However, opinions were raised to submit Namhansanseong Fortress in Gwangju and Samnyeonsanseong Fortress in Boeun as world heritage sites. But Suwon Hwaseong was the final choice. This was thanks to the strong recommendation of Professor Kim Dong-wook of the Department of Architecture at Kyonggi University, an architectural historian and the highest authority on Hwaseong.

Professor Kim wanted to inform people around the world about Hwaseong's value and excellence. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Hwaseong became a UNESCO World Heritage Site through the efforts of three people: Shim Jae-deok, Lee Jong-hak, and Kim Dong-wook. A phone call came from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 21, 1997. It said, "At this UNESCO Board of Executive Directors meeting, Hwaseong's registration as a World Heritage Site seems likely to be deferred."

Mayor Shim Jae-deok was greatly shocked. He told the head of the Cultural Heritage Team at Suwon City Hall to go on a business trip to Paris, France, where the UNESCO Board of Executive Directors meeting was being held. He also contacted Park Du-ho, a reporter from Yonhapnews who had a keen interest in Hwaseong, and proposed they go together.

Before departing for Paris, France, Mayor Shim Jae-deok prepared a facsimile of the 'Hwaseongseongyeok Uigwe' (Hwaseong Construction Record) created by Teacher Lee Jong-hak and a 'bangpae yeon' (traditional Korean fighting kite), a symbol of Korean traditional culture. And with the resolve that Hwaseong absolutely must be registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, he boarded a flight to Paris on June 23, 1997. The promotion of Hwaseong's registration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site proceeded swiftly.

UNESCO decides based on the application alone whether to reject it in the first stage or whether to send an inspection team to conduct an on-site investigation. Fortunately, both Changdeokgung Palace and Hwaseong passed the first screening. In early March of the following year, 1997, Professor Nimal De Silva from Sri Lanka, a member of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, visited Suwon to conduct an on-site investigation of Hwaseong.

Since the judgment of the screening committee conducting the on-site investigation would affect the registration decision, Suwon City did its best to explain Hwaseong's excellence to Professor Silva. At the time, interpretation was handled by Pastor Lee Sung-chul of Junggang Elementary School. In addition, Professor Baek Seung-gil, who was the Korean Committee Chair of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), assisted with interpretation.

Through these efforts, Professor Silva expressed quite positive opinions and departed. Suwon City was simply waiting for the UNESCO Board of Executive Directors to pass the registration. However, while Changdeokgung Palace received a recommendation for World Heritage Site registration, Hwaseong received news that its registration was being deferred.

Believing that Hwaseong's registration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site was absolutely necessary for Suwon's future, Mayor Shim Jae-deok departed for Paris, where the UNESCO headquarters is located, two days after receiving the call. On the first day of arrival in Paris, the delegation visited the UNESCO Korea Representative Office.

According to the testimony of reporter Park Du-ho, who visited Paris at that time, the UNESCO Korea Representative Office said, "There was no need for you to come here. The executive board members said no...," viewing the Suwon City delegation's visit with displeasure. He also reportedly made remarks suggesting that registration as a World Heritage Site was not such a big deal. Then reporter Park Du-ho, feeling indignant, pulled out his reporting notebook from his pocket and pretended to take notes. At that, the tone immediately changed. "That's not what I meant......"

It appeared that the ambassador also realized he had received them too negatively. The ambassador instructed one secretary from the representative office to assist the delegation while they conducted UNESCO business. The ambassador also assigned the only official vehicle besides the ambassador's car that the embassy had, along with a driver. In this way, what had seemed like misfortune turned into opportunity.

At that time, the UNESCO Board of Executive Directors judged that while Hwaseong itself had sufficient value as a World Heritage Site, the surrounding landscape was so poor that it could not be properly preserved. In particular, with many areas destroyed during the Korean War, there was controversy over whether Hwaseong could be recognized as a "complete relic."

But as if by divine help, Mayor Shim met Professor Baek Seung-gil and his wife in the heart of Paris. They had assisted Professor Silva who came to conduct the on-site investigation of Hwaseong. An English-speaking expert was needed, but since it was a hastily organized business trip, they had departed without finding an expert.

Upon seeing Professor Baek, Mayor Shim immediately said, "I will arrange a separate European trip for you later, so please help us." Professor Baek had worked as an international museum expert, had many connections at UNESCO, and was well-versed in international diplomatic protocols. Professor Baek accepted Mayor Shim's request and began assisting the Suwon City delegation.

In the early morning of June 25, Mayor Shim Jae-deok had a strange dream. He was climbing an endlessly high staircase while hanging on. After struggling to climb, he even slid back two steps. After much difficulty, when he came close to the top, someone at the summit extended a hand to help him. Shim Jae-deok grasped that hand and finally reached the summit. After having this dream, he had a premonition that something good would happen with Hwaseong's World Heritage Site registration.

Professor Baek Seung-gil met with a coordinator of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and arranged a meeting date with the deliberation committee members from the board's seven countries. That day was June 25. Mexico was the chair country at the time, and the Suwon City delegation met with examination committee members from Australia, Japan, and Germany. UNESCO executives were impressed by Mayor Shim Jae-deok's proactive attitude, moved by his strong determination to register Hwaseong as a World Heritage Site.

At that time, 41 regions applied for cultural heritage registration, but Mayor Shim Jae-deok was the only person who directly visited UNESCO. UNESCO executive board members said, "We acknowledge Hwaseong's cultural value, but we were concerned about the many people living right next to the fortress walls. We deemed this an indication of insufficient will to protect cultural heritage and thus deferred registration."

In response to these points, Mayor Shim Jae-deok promised to undertake extensive renovation projects to protect Hwaseong. The examination committee members, sensing Mayor Shim's sincerity, requested several supplementary measures for registration. Mayor Shim explained the cases of cultural heritage protection zone designations and matters managed according to the Urban Planning Act up to that point.

He explained that going forward, land around Hwaseong would be purchased to separate the fortress walls from residential areas, and the purchased land would host Hwaseong-related facilities. UNESCO executive board members viewed Mayor Shim's response positively and submitted Hwaseong to the executive board's main agenda along with Changdeokgung Palace.

Ahead of the executive committee's final decision, Mayor Shim requested a dinner with the 13 executive board members through the UNESCO ambassador. Such a sudden gathering was indeed a difficult undertaking. At the time, the UNESCO ambassador was moved by Mayor Shim's passion and arranged the dinner. The dinner began at 8 p.m. on June 26 at a hotel in Paris.

Having met the UNESCO executive board members beforehand, Mayor Shim was familiar with them and explained the Hwaseong protection program once more. Mayor Shim recounted what he said that day.

"Right now, the Republic of Korea is experiencing a development boom. The people of Suwon are also demanding development from me. Particularly, the development demands from people living inside the Hwaseong fortress walls are intense.

Because of the Cultural Heritage Protection Act, those inside Hwaseong cannot build houses of greater height or even properly install nails. So if you all do not register Hwaseong as a World Heritage Site, I will immediately return to Suwon and demolish Hwaseong. Know that the disappearance of Hwaseong would not be because of me and the citizens but because of you.

Although much of Hwaseong was destroyed during the Korean War, since it has been restored based on the 'Hwaseongseongyeok Uigwe,' it is virtually the same as the original. I look forward to your wise judgment."

Mayor Shim spoke with humor and tactfully, but in fact it was little short of a veiled threat.

Through these efforts, UNESCO executives acknowledged Hwaseong's important value and decided it should be registered as a World Heritage Site. Two days after the dinner, Suwon Hwaseong achieved the remarkable feat of receiving a "registration recommendation" as a World Heritage Site from the UNESCO Board of Executive Directors through supportive remarks from representatives of Japan and Australia.

The "registration recommendation" was virtually the same as "registration." It would have been impossible if Mayor Shim Jae-deok had not flown to Paris. Mayor Shim received this news on an airplane heading to Townsville, Australia, Suwon's sister city. The mayor's delegation popped champagne on the airplane and celebrated Hwaseong's recommendation for World Heritage Site registration.

Then on December 6, 1997, at the 21st General Assembly of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Naples, Italy, Hwaseong was formally approved as a World Heritage Site along with Changdeokgung Palace. This was Shim Jae-deok's foresight.

It was a great achievement in which the saying that if you earnestly desire a World Heritage Site and do not give up, it will surely come true was realized. A journalist once asked me, "Where did the strength come from for Suwon to invest hundreds of billions of won and go all-in on Suwon Hwaseong?" I answered, "It came from the World Heritage Site registration certificate."

2022 is the year of local government elections. I hope that a candidate with the mindset to open Suwon's future, like Mayor Shim Jae-deok, will become mayor.