CHA contributes to the advancement of national culture through conservation and by creating values from cultural heritage.
By creatively harnessing and preserving cultural heritage, CHA will illuminate our future as the world’s leading cultural nation.
CHA was established to safeguard the integrity of cultural traditions of Korea and enhance the cultural life of Korean people by preserving and promoting the use of cultural heritage.
CHA manages important cultural properties, which were designated as State or City/Province-designated Cultural Heritage. The State-designated Cultural Heritage such as National Treasures and Treasures is directly managed by CHA, and in the case of City/Province-designated Cultural Heritage, CHA supports local governments for their management. CHA also registers particular cultural properties that require special attention for conservation as Registered Cultural Heritage.
To alter State-designated Cultural Heritage and their protected areas or to excavate underground or underwater cultural properties, the approval of a CHA Administrator is necessary. CHA also supervises the export of cultural properties abroad.
CHA provides financial support for conservation and management of cultural heritage. Government subsidies are also granted for the management and restoration of State-designated Cultural Heritage and for the protection and promotion of important intangible cultural heritage. The repair projects and management of the Seven Cultural Heritage Sectors including the Baekje Area and the tourist sites at the Southern coast are also financially supported by CHA.
CHA directly manages royal palaces and tombs of the Joseon Dynasty located in Seoul and its surrounding area, which includes Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, Jongmyo Shrine, Donggureung Tomb and Seogureung Tomb. Currently, it is carrying out several restoration projects for Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung Palaces in an effort to protect and promote the royal historic sites. CHA is also in charge of managing important historic sites such as the Historic Site of King Sejong, Hyeonchungsa Shrine and Chilbaeguichong Tomb. In addition, the National Palace Museum of Korea and National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage are also under the control of CHA.
CHA is in charge of submitting World Heritage, Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and Memory of the World candidates of Korea to UNESCO for their registration on the UNESCO lists. Through these efforts, CHA awakens people around the world to the value and excellence of Korean cultural heritage. It also strives to strengthen international cooperation in the field of cultural heritage through partnerships with other countries. By providing support for ancient tombs of Goguryeo located in the North, CHA has made an effort to promote cultural heritage exchange with North Korea.
Through the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, CHA conducts a variety of research and investigation for scientific conservation and the management of cultural properties. The Korea National University of Cultural Heritage, a national university specialized in cultural heritage, was also established and being run by CHA.