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Korean Neo-Confucian Academies Included on UNESCO World Heritage List
Writer
International Cooperation Division
Date
2019-07-12
Read
1317

- Korea's 14th world heritage site decided at the 43rd World Heritage Committee in Baku, Azerbaijan - The educational institution of the Joseon Dynasty known as "Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies," has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 43rd World Heritage Committee (June 30th-July 10th) held in Baku, Azerbaijan has made the final decision to inscribe Korea's seowon on the World Heritage List in the afternoon of July 6th in local time. As a result, Korea now has 14 world heritage sites. Korea's seowon is a serial heritage of nine academies, including Sosu Seowon (Yeongju), Dosan Seowon (Andong), Byeongsan Seowon (Andong), Oksan Seowon (Gyeongju), Dodong Seowon (Daegu), Namgye Seowon (Hamyang), Pilam Seowon (Jangseong), Museong Seowon (Jeongeup), Donam Seowon (Nonsan), all of which are state-designated heritage sites. The World Heritage Committee commented in relation to Korea's seowon, "It is recognized of its 'Outstanding Universal Value (OUV)' in that it is an evidence of cultural tradition regarding Korea's Neo-Confucianism that continues to live on as education and social custom to this day and that it shows the historical process in which the concept of Neo-Confucianism changes to reflect Korea's environment." Member states, including China, has expressed support and congratulations on the inscription. Seowon's addition as a world heritage site is a meaningful result from the combined efforts of the Cultural Heritage Administration (Administrator Chung Jae-suk), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minister Kang Kyung-wha), the Permanent Delegation fo the Republic of Korea to UNESCO (Ambassador Lee Byong Hyun), related local governments, the nine seowon, and the Conservation and Management Foundation of Seowon. Along with the decision, the World Heritage Committee has recommended that a comprehensive conservation and management plan be prepared for the nine seowon following the inscription. In order to carry out the suggestions for the world heritage inscription, continuous discussions will be made with relevant local governments.

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