Yangju Hwaeamsa Temple Site Steps Closer to UNESCO World Heritage Status as International Academic Conference Concludes

As UNESCO World Heritage inscription of the Yangju Hwaeamsa Temple Site is being promoted, an international academic conference held under the theme of "World Heritage Value and Conservation: Authenticity and Integrity of Archaeological Heritage" is drawing attention.

On the 29th, Yangju City co-hosted an academic conference at the Olympia Hall of Seoul Olympic Parktel with Gyeonggi Province, organized by the Korea National Committee of ICOMOS, where the world heritage value of the Yangju Hwaeamsa Temple Site was highlighted.

At the academic conference, participants examined the systematic preservation and management of the Hwaeamsa Temple Site and explored the direction of UNESCO World Heritage inscription based on preservation cases of domestic and international archaeological heritage.

The keynote address by Professor Emeritus Bae Ki-dong of Hanyang University (former director of the National Museum of Korea) focused on "Authenticity of Archaeological Heritage and World Heritage Value."

This was followed by presentations on the authenticity and integrity of overseas cases including the Prambanan Temple in Indonesia, the Sarai Bahlol ancient city ruins in Pakistan, and Chinese archaeological heritage, as well as domestic heritage such as the Baekje Historic Areas, Gaya Tumuli, and Namhansanseong Fortress.

A comprehensive discussion was led by Shin Hee-gwon, International Director of ICOMOS Headquarters and professor at Seoul City University, where participants discussed the establishment of authenticity and integrity of archaeological heritage, sustainable preservation management, and ways to enhance world heritage value.

The Yangju Hwaeamsa Temple Site is a representative archaeological heritage that served as a center of royal and Buddhist culture from the late Goryeo to the early Joseon period, and achieved the milestone of passing the UNESCO World Heritage preliminary assessment in October 2026.

A Yangju City official stated, "This academic conference was a meaningful occasion to reexamine the world heritage value of the Hwaeamsa Temple Site from an international perspective and to explore directions for preservation management."