- -It will announce events planned for the year, which include festivals, night tours and K-pop stars’ online travelogues.-

-It recommends themed itineraries like ‘Folk Music Route’, ‘Mystic Landscape Route’, ‘Confucian Academy Route’, ‘Asceticism Route’ -

Korea’s cultural heritage sites will reopen after refurbishment and offer much-needed healing and leisure as people try to cope with fatigue from prolonged Covid-19.

The Cultural Heritage Administration and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation together will launch ‘Visit Korean Heritage Campaign’ in hopes of drawing attention to these cultural heritage sites and encouraging people to visit.

They will hold an opening ceremony at 6pm on May 26 in the Hwangudan Alter near Westin Chosun Hotel in central Seoul.

In line with the slogan, ‘Feel the Real Korean Heritage’, the campaign is aimed at bringing people close to cultural heritage sites and make sure the venues belong to the people.

People have been appreciating cultural heritage sites in new, creative ways like enjoying ancient places wearing hanbok and taking night-time strolls under the moonlight. K-pop’s success overseas has shown us just what culture can do socially and economically.

The hope is that through the campaign people rediscover cultural heritage and their charms, particularly healing and relaxation they offer in addition to a wide spectrum of sightseeing opportunities.

With many of these sites being outdoors, it will also be a perfect place where people can enjoy leisure while abiding by “everyday life distancing” guidelines aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19.

‘Visit Korean Heritage Campaign’ consists of five projects centered on Korea’s heritage sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and seven related projects that include festivals, concerts, exhibitions and hands-on activities designed to learn about cultural heritage.

The five projects centered on Korea’s heritage sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List are as following:

1. Royal Culture Festival (Oct. 10~18) that takes place in Seoul’s five palaces, namely Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Gyeonghuigung

2. World Heritage Festival (‘Korea’s Confucian Academy’: July 4~20; ‘Gyeongsangbukdo’; July 31~Aug. 29; ‘Jeju Special Self-Governing Province’: Sept. 4~20)

3. Korea on Stage where people can enjoy performing arts along with cultural heritage with three events planned to take place in historic sites such as Gyeongbokgung Palace and Hwaseong Fortress in the city of Suwon.

4. My Travelogue of Cultural Heritage that will be uploaded online after July

5. Cultural Heritage Stamp Collecting Booklet set to be distributed within June

The seven related projects include Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival that takes place throughout the year at the National Intangible Heritage Center in the city of Jeonju; night tours to 36 venues across the country; and cultural heritage festivals that include night-time programs at palaces and Hyeonchungsa Shrine in Asan.

Other projects include Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival; Special Exhibition of Cultural Properties that are taking place in major museums and exhibition halls; archaeological sites being open to public (10 excavation sites and 30 restoration sites); and Joseon Royal Tomb Cultural Festival (Sept. 26~Oct. 25) that is being held for the first time this year in 26 royal tombs of Joseon Dynasty (1392~1910).

As part of the campaign, the Cultural Heritage Administration also recommends ‘Korean Heritage Routes’, which are two-day or three-day itineraries for visiting Korea’s heritage sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List or sites related to Korea’s cultural properties inscribed on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Routes are devised based on the sites’ themes and locations.

Basic courses are ‘Golden Era Route’ which is designed to help people explore the historic cities of Gyeongju and Andong; ‘Antiquity Route’ where people can experience the aesthetics of the Baekje Dynasty (18 B.C.~A.D. 660) in Gongju, Buyeo and Iksan; ‘Folk Music Route’ that centers around the roots of Korea’s folk music in North and South Jeolla region; ‘Mystic Landscape Route’ where people can enjoy natural heritage of Jeju Island; and ‘Royalty Route’ that will focus on royal palaces and mountain fortresses in Seoul and nearby Incheon and Gyeonggi areas.

Two additional themed courses are available. ‘Confucian Academy Route’ where people get to visit seowon, or Korea’s unique educational establishments for Confucian scholars and their pupils. Seowon has recently been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. ‘Asceticism Route’, meanwhile, offers a chance to explore sansa, or Buddhist temples located in deep, scenic mountains.

The venues in these suggested itineraries are well-known to people through history books and television programs, but most of them are surprisingly not that crowded with tourists. For those planning two-day or three-day trips within the countries, these places will provide rest and relaxation as well as enriching and learning experiences.

The Cultural Heritage Administration plans to distribute maps and guide books at tourism information centers across the country as well as online. The maps and guide books will provide information about transportation, accommodation and nearby attractions for each venue on the suggested itineraries.

The Cultural Heritage Administration also plans to set up a website within June where people can learn about ‘Visit Korean Heritage Campaign’ and ‘Korean Heritage Tour Courses’ as well as social networking service accounts including YouTube so it can interact with tourists providing various video contents and hopefully getting feedback.

The Cultural Heritage Administration hopes people can get much-need healing and inspiration from Korea’s cultural heritage. When the world succeeds in bringing Covid-19 under control, the hope is that foreign tourists will also enjoy Korea’s cultural heritage to the fullest through the campaign.

Cultural Heritage Promotion Division

Park, Jungseop Deputy Director (042-481-4745), Hwang, Eun Mi Program Officer (042-481-4746)