The 34th World Heritage Committee meeting held in Brasilia from July 25 to August 3 has inscribed the “Historic villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong” on the UNESCO World Heritage List. UNESCO said in its resolution for inscribing the villages that the “Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong” reflects the social structure and uniqueness of Confucian culture of the Joseon Dynasty in their buildings and layouts, which is in harmony with nature. UNESCO also praised the village’s time-honored tradition including the cultural and academic achievement of the villagers as well as intangible heritage, ranging from games, customs to memorial rites, the locals have transmitted until today. The “Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong” became the tenth World Heritage site in Korea following the inscription of the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty last year. In celebration of the new inscription, the Cultural Heritage Administration will hold an event for promoting the village as a new World Heritage site. The following is a description of the historic villages by UNESCO. “Founded in the 14th-15th centuries, Hahoe and Yangdong are seen as the two most representative historic clan villages in the Republic of Korea. Their layout and location - sheltered by forested mountains and facing out onto a river and open agricultural fields - reflect the distinctive aristocratic Confucian culture of the early part of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). The villages were located to provide both physical and spiritual nourishment from their surrounding landscapes. They include residences of the head families, together with substantial timber framed houses of other clan members, also pavilions, study halls, Confucian academies for learning, and clusters of one story mud-walled, thatched-roofed houses, formerly for commoners. The landscapes of mountains, trees and water around the village, framed in views from pavilions and retreats, were celebrated for their beauty by 17th and 18th century poets.”