South Korea - Sites of the Busan Wartime Capital

Temporary Presidential Residence N35°06'12.6" E129°01'02.7"

Temporary Government Complex N35°06'17.5" E129°01'10.0"

Korea Meteorological Administration N35°06'17.3" E129°01'56.1"

Ami-dong Tombstone Village N35°05'58.7" E129°00'43.7"

Uam-dong Cattle Shed Village N35°07'32.4" E129°04'10.6"

Pier 1 of Busan Port N35°06'13.4" E129°02'27.7"

U.S. Embassy/U.S. Information Service N35°06'09.6" E129°01'52.2"

United Nations Memorial Cemetery N35°07'41.3" E129°05'48.5"

Camp Hialeah N35°10'02.1" E129°03'20.8"



The Sites of the Busan Wartime Capital is a serial property consisting of nine component sites located in Busan, Republic of Korea. The nominated property is associated with a conflict on the Korean Peninsula known as the Korean War (1950–1953), the first proxy war of the Cold War era. The city of Busan provided a temporary seat of government for South Korea for the majority of the three-year conflict (it served for 1,023 combined days over the periods from August 18 to October 26, 1950 and January 4, 1951 to August 14, 1953). Following the outbreak of the Korean War on June 25, 1950, the government of South Korea was transferred to Busan on August 18 after brief periods in the cities of Daejeon and Daegu (about three weeks and one month, respectively). After approximately two months, the government returned to Seoul. The seat of government was, however, shifted once again to Busan on January 4, 1951. It remained there until the signing of a ceasefire agreement in the summer of 1953. The nominated property offers exceptional testimony to this provisional seat of the government of South Korea as it was forced to expeditiously adapt existing facilities to fulfil the functions of a wartime capital, such as maintaining the operations of the government, providing support to displaced people, and facilitating international cooperation. The nominated property consists of nine components—five centering around architectural heritage and four areas respectively serving special purposes.

The nine components of the nominated property collectively meet the conditions of authenticity and integrity by superbly attesting to the functioning of the Busan wartime capital as it governed a nation in a time of war, sustained the war-torn lives of refugees, and sought international support for military and humanitarian needs. Among the nine component sites, three are associated with efforts at maintaining governmental functions during the war: the Temporary Presidential Residence, the Temporary Government Complex, and the Korea Meteorological Administration. Components related to the lives of displaced Koreans are the Ami-dong Tombstone Village and the Uam-dong Cattle Shed Village, which opened themselves to housing the refugees flooding Busan who were displaced by the war. The other four components evidence the cooperation between the United Nations and the South Korean government and its people as they sought peace. They are Pier 1 of Busan Port, the United States Embassy/United States Information Service, Camp Hialeah, and the United Nations Memorial Cemetery.

South Korea - Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats (Extension)

Muan Getbol: N35°02′46.18″ E126°20′17.26″

Goheung Getbol: N34°42′05.23″ E127°26′36.12″

Yeosu Getbol: N34°44′32.77″ E127°34′24.37″

The Yellow Sea is one of the world’s major tidal flat habitats, and the nominated property is located on the east side of the Yellow Sea and the southwest coast of the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Sediments containing abundant nutrients are supplied from major rivers of the ROK, such as the Hangang River, Geumgang River, and Youngsangang River. Dynamic and continuous sediment supply, combined with topography (archipelago), oceanography (macrotidal current), and climatology (temperate monsoon climate), has created one of the world's widest and most diverse tidal flat habitats and even a unique coastal landform. The nominated property encompasses every type of tidal flat habitats on Earth that has formed since the Holocene, such as sand dune, sandbar, sand spit, sandflat, mixed flat, mudflat, rocky habitat, salt marsh, and characteristic sedimentary body.

The nominated property is a key and optimum habitat for the different species of waterbirds using the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, which is one of the world's most threatened flyways of migratory birds. In addition, the habitat diversity of the nominated property greatly contributes to the species composition of various tidal flat organisms which are food sources for the waterbirds.

The nominated property for extension is a serial nomination with three components: Muan Getbol, Goheung Getbol, and Yeosu Getbol, where are adjacent to Shinan Getbol and Boseong-Suncheon Getbol included in the Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats (Phase I).

South Korea - Archaeological Remains at the Hoeamsa Temple Site in Yangju City

"The nominated property is an archaeological site preserving the remains of a Buddhist temple known as Hoeamsa, a 14th-century Seon (Chan in Chinese; Zen in Japanese) monastery constructed in accordance with the Cheonggyu principles (Qinggui in Chinese), or “Pure Regulations.” The archaeological relics excavated at the nominated property offer material testimony to the spatial composition of a Cheonggyu-based Seon monastery, the architectural layouts of its component buildings, and the monastic practices and religious ceremonies carried out within. The popularity of the Seon School (the Meditation School) in East Asia that peaked in the 14th century can be confirmed through the nominated property, as well as the regional dissemination of the Pure Regulations and the according emergence of the related Seon monastic system." Source: UNESCO WHS Tentative List

South Korea - Upo Wetland

Upo Wetland located in Changnyeong-gun County, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, is the largest riverine wetland in the Republic of Korea with a well preserved natural environment. The area of Upo Wetland spans about 2.3km2 and many smaller wetlands are scattered around. In recognition of its values as a migratory bird habitat, the wetland has been inscribed on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance in 1998, and during the 10th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP10) held in 2008, many experts visited the wetland. The creation of Upo Wetland dates back to when the Korean peninsula was formed. It has provided people with a means of livelihood, while retaining its well-preserved primitive ecosystem. In addition, the wetland plays an important role as a habitat for more than 10 endangered species, a fact that draws global attention. The beautiful landscape surrounding the wetland area increases the invaluable aspect of the wetland as a rich repository of the primitive ecosystem.

South Korea - Stone Buddhas and Pagodas at Hwasun Unjusa Temple

Unjusa temple is located on the upper area of Daecho stream, one of the tributaries of the Yeongsan-gang river. It is enshrined in a mountainous valley stretching in the north-south direction. The hills on both sides are about 100 meters above the sea level. Unjusa sits at the intersection of the Hwasun, Naju, and Jangheung regions which includes Korea's vast and fertile Naju plain. It was traditionally the center of traffic and commerce. There are abundant geographical and historical evidences that Unjusa was one of the central temples in the region. There are 141 stone pagoda relics, 115 stone Buddha statues (with the exception of three bronze and clay sculptures) including those that only partially retain the complete form of a pagoda and Buddha. 22 stone pagodas and 101 Buddhist statues stand around the valley and the hills. The site of Unjusa temple is protected as a state-designated Historic Site, and there are three state-designated Treasures within the property. In addition, twelve cultural property materials are designated by the local provincial government.

South Korea - Sites of fossilized dinosaurs throughout the Southern seacoast

Sites of fossilized dinosaurs throughout the Southern seacoast of Korea are the largest grounds of various fossilized eggs and footprints of dinosaurs from the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic era in the world. These sites are characterized by the fact that the fossilized dinosaurs eggs are widely distributed in a perfectly well preserved conditions; the footprints of the archaeopteryxes are the biggest in the world, and the two webbed feet birds' footprints are the oldest of its kind in the world. These sites are situated in beautiful natural surroundings with petrified wood, many tracks of extinct lives, various geographic layers, and the particular river drifts. The fossil site in Haenam-gun is famous for the extra-large fossilized footprints of dinosaurs, the footprints of the two webbed feet birds, the oldest birds in the world, and the archaeopteryxes' footprints, which were discovered for the first time in Asia. The fossil site in Boseong-gun is famous for the fossilized eggs of dinosaurs and the nest of perfectly preserved dinosaur' s eggs, which are within the world scale(diameter 1.5m). The fossil site in Hwasun-gun is famous for the footprints of carnivorous dinosaurs in 20 very long trails(longest 52m) and over 1,000 footprints. Also, the fossil site in the city of Yeosu is distributed widely in the accumulated layer of the Cretaceous period in 5 islands, including Sado, Choodo, Nangdo, Jeokgeumdo and Mokgeumdo. Not only is it famous for its quantity of fossils, but it also has the world famous trails of footprints ranging over 84m, the longest dinosaur footprints in the world. The fossil site in Goseong-gun is famous for the quantity and variety of fossils, since more than 4,000 dinosaur footprints and about 420 walking trails were discovered. Greographic Location: a) Uhang-ri, Hwangsan-myeon, Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do. 34°45' N, 126°25' E b) Bibong-ri, Deungnyang-myeon, Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do. 34°45' N, 127°10' E c) Sado-ri, Hwajeong-myeon, City of Yeosu, Jeollanam-do. 34°34'-37' N, 127°31'-34' E d) Seoyoo-ri, Buk-myeon, Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do. 35°09'51" N, 127°36'31" E e) Deongmyeong-ri, Hai-myeon, Goseong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do. 34°54' N, 128°08' E

South Korea - Salterns

Yeonggwang Saltern: N35 15 58 E126 19 56 Sinan Saltern: N34 59 35 E126 10 34 Salterns located at Sinan-gun and Yeonggwang-gun in Jeollanam-do, is where sea salt is produced with the use of mudflats. Jeollanam-do is the central region for Korean salt production. Sinan-gun holds a dominant position in the consumer market, and Yeonggwang-gun's products are essential for related industries. Yeonggwang salt is used for making jeotgal, or pickled seafood, and gulbi, or dried yellow croakers, both of which are traditionally salted foods in Korea.

South Korea - Oeam Village

Oeam Village, a typical rural town of Korea, is a clan village, home to the Yi family hailing from Yean. Oral traditions have it that it was about 500 years ago when people first inhabited the village site. But according to the records, the village was settled when the Yi clan moved to the site. The first person who settled in the village was Yi Sa-jong, and since his settlement, the village prospered, emerging as a major clan village for the Yean Yi family in late Joseon (1392-1910). At the back of the village, Mt. Seolhwasan rises in the northeast and the mountain ranges encircle the village from behind. Also, the village faces Mt. Meonjeoksan in front and Mt. Bongsusan to its southwest. To the west, the village is bordered by a broad field, and a stream “Geundaegolnae” flows in between. It is the typical geographical features of a traditional rural village of Korea, having a broad field near the village.

South Korea - Naganeupseong, Town Fortress and Village

Naganeupseong, a historic village located in the Southwest province of Korea, is noted for its well-preserved cultural landscape and traditional lifestyle continued from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Known as a former administrative town, stretching over Dongnae-ri, Namnae-ri and Seonae-ri in Nagan-myeon, Suncheon City of Jeollanam-do Province, the folk village has preserved the crucial elements of a traditional town village, which includes a fortress, government buildings and private houses. Its traditional folklore and natural landscape add the village’s value as an outstanding historic town of Korea. The village was created on a level field surrounded by mountains. Serving as an administrative core for Nagan-eup (county) during the Joseon and Goryeo (918-1392) Dynasties, it was equipped with necessary facilities for both public and private purposes: a government office to rule over the town; fortress for defense; a cluster of private houses; and forests forming a natural landscape and providing a space for rites. The village is also a venue for the transmission of important intangible cultural heritage, including farmer’s music (nongak ), communal rituals, pansori epic chant, gayageum (12-string instrument) performance with songs ( gayageum byeongchang ) and seasonal customs and rites.

South Korea - Kangjingun Kiln Sites

During the Koryo period (918-1392), there existed two groups of earthenware and celadon kiln sites: Kangjin-gun in Chollanam-do and Puan-gun in Chollabuk-do. To date, about 400 kiln sites have been discovered in these two areas. In particular, some 188 kilns, the highest record in Korea, are distributed in the region of Yongun-ni, Kyeyul-li, Sadang-ni, and Sudong-ni of Kangjin-gun. Well-conserved, 98 of them were designated as historic sites by the Korean government. Some 37 kilns remain in Yongun-ni today in generally good condition. Most of the kilns are early kilns established from the 10th century through the 11th century. Fragments that are considered to be related to the ancient Chinese kilns have been found in the kiln sites of this region. Some 29 kilns remain in Kyeyul-li. Although some fragments of the same style as those found in Yongun-ni were also discovered in Kyeyul-li, most of the kilns date from the 11th to the 13th centuries. Many fragments of conventionalized inlaid celadon ware were found here. Some 27 kilns remain in Sadang-ni. Of those, kilns of Tangion village dating from the early 12th century to the 13th century are representative of the Koryo ceramic kilns which were used when Koryo celadons, known for their superior kingfisher color and inlay technique, were at their peak. Some f~ve or six kilns remain in Sudong-ni dating from the 14th century. Most have been destroyed through river erosion and farming.

South Korea - Daegokcheon Stream Petroglyphs

Coordinates: Bangudae Petroglyphs: N35 36 50 E129 10 28 Petroglyphs in Cheonjeon-ri: N35 36 53 E129 10 25 The Daegokcheon Stream Petroglyphs are a work of inscribed rock art engraved on three-kilometerlong cliffs located in the Daegokcheon Stream, which include the Bangudae Petroglyphs in Daegokri (National Treasure No. 285) and the Petroglyphs in Cheonjeon-ri (National Treasure No. 147). The upper reaches of the Daegokcheon Stream, where the Daegokcheon Petroglyphs are located, have remained nearly intact in their natural state since the prehistoric age, along with diverse relics that date from the prehistoric age to the historic era. Not only the prehistoric ecosystem but also the harmonious relationship between nature and humans from the starting point of the historic age to the modern era can be found in this historic site. "Bangudae" means "a tall, flat rock resembling a tortoise". The rocks between the Bangudae and the Cheonjeon-ri Petroglyphs and their surrounding area boast beautiful scenery in this site. During the Joseon Period (1392-1910), this scenic location served as a gathering place where the literati class indulged in poetry and music, and the many inscriptions and drawings engraved on these rocks reflect their enjoyment of the place. In this sense, Daegokcheon Stream, which links the two petroglyph sites, serves as a "living museum" where diverse relics dating from the prehistoric era to the historic age are organically connected.

South Korea - Ancient Mountain Fortresses in Central Korea

Coordinates: Samnyeon Sanseong: N36 29 14 E127 44 32 Sangdang Sanseong: N36 39 40 E127 32 25 Mireuk Sanseong: N36 48 07 E127 54 42 Chungju Sanseong: N36 57 23 E127 58 42 Jangmi Sanseong: N37 03 42 E127 54 09 Deokju Sanseong: N36 52 08 E128 05 54 Ondal Sanseong: N37°04'37 E128°29'53 The property refers to the sites of national defenses located in Chungcheongbuk-do, the central region of Korea, which display major characteristics of sanseong or mountain fortresses from ancient times, through the middle ages, to modern times. Korea is called "a country of sanseong (mountain fortress)." The ancestors of present-day Korean people developed unique defense facilities by using the natural environment of the Korean peninsula where mountains and hills are abundant. To date, almost 2,400 mountain fortress sites large and small have been found in Korea. There are 212 mountain fortress sites in Chungcheongbuk-do, the central region of Korea. The mountain fortresses of Korea have been consistently evolved in design and construction. Not only were the early types of mountain fortresses developed toward perfection by virtue of historical experience, but they were also developed to enhance defensive abilities in the process of repelling foreign invaders. In this respect, the mountain fortress in Korea can be identified as historical monuments achieved by the outstanding cultural ability of the Korean people.