Seoul City said Monday that it has selected eight sites, artifacts and traditions to push for designation as UNESCO World Heritage in the long term.
The candidates include the U.S. Army garrison, remains of an ancient fortress, ancient maps of the capital and Buddhists rituals.
The city plans to spend 100 million won ($94,000) in promoting the heritages next year.
They have been selected by experts commissioned by the city government.
The list of places includes the Yongsan U.S. Army garrison at the center of the city, which will be returned to Korea in 2016. It was also used by the Japanese military during colonial rule.
Along with the military base, the remnants of a fortress and tombs in eastern Seoul dating back to the Baekje Kingdom (18B.C.-660) and Deuksugung Palace in central Seoul will be promoted for submission for the category of heritage sites
Two Buddhist traditions ― the lantern event and the monk’s dining ritual ― are potential candidates for the intangible heritage list.
Ancient capital maps including Dongyeodo made by geographer Kim Jeong-ho in the 19th century, and a KBS TV program in the 1980s on the reunions of families separated by the Korean War will be pushed for designation in the world records heritage category.
By Lee Hyun-jeong (
rene@heraldcorp.com)
