Paul Richard Dingwall, an advisor to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), visits Korea from October 14^th to 25^th to conduct a field survey on the “Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes” which was nominated for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List by the Cultural Heritage Administration and Jeju Special Self-Governing Province in January this year. IUCN is one of the advisory bodies to the World Heritage Committee.

 

During his stay in Korea, Mr. Dingwall, along with Korean experts including the Cultural Properties Committee members, will visit the nominated sites such as Hallasan Natural Reserve, Seongsan Ilchulbong Tuff Cone and Geomunoreum Lava Tube System, in order to evaluate their value as World Heritage, the authenticity of the application content and the preservation status of the nominated heritage. The evaluation team will also interview volunteers working for the preservation of the cultural heritage on the Jeju Island and local residents to listen to their opinion regarding a possible inscription of the “Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes” and their dedication to it. Mr. Dingwall will hold a press conference and give his opinion on the evaluation results at the Jade Room of the Jeju Grand Hotel at 11 a.m. on October 21^st.

 

The Cultural Heritage Administration and Jeju Province have been making joint efforts and thorough preparation for the inscription of the “Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes”, including the management of the surrounding areas of the nominated heritage and the two times of mock field surveys involving local and foreign experts. Mr. You Hongjune, the Administrator of the Cultural Heritage Administration, is scheduled to meet with Mr. Dingwall on the 20^th, in order to explain the World Heritage value of the nominated heritage and Korea’s preservation efforts and ask IUCN’s endorsement for the inscription.

 

The evaluation results will be made into a technical report and submitted to the IUCN plenary session slated for January next year. Based on the report, the World Heritage Committee will make a decision at its regular meeting to be held in July 2007, whether to inscribe “Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes” on the World Heritage List.

 

Mr. Paul Dingwall, born in Wanganui in New Zealand, is a New Zealand citizen and a British subject. He has been acting as a senior advisor and consultant to UNESCO and the IUCN since 2005. As for his academic background, he received a bachelor degree in geography from University of Canterbury.

 

“World Heritage” refers to heritages of outstanding universal value that are designated as such in accordance with the “Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.” The UNESCO Convention was adopted in 1972 to encourage both international cooperation and individual states’ activities for the protection of the world heritage of mankind. Currently, 830 items from 138 countries are inscribed on the World Heritage List. As of October 2006, the Republic of Korea has seven cultural heritages, including Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple and Tripitaka Korea at Haeinsa Temple, inscribed on the World Heritage List. If the “Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes” is inscribed, it will be the first natural heritage in Korea to be inscribed on the List.